Science & Nature · 3
Which hyperthermophilic archaea is named after the Greek god of fire?
Answer
Pyrococcus
Pyrococcus (meaning 'fire ball') is a genus of hyperthermophilic archaea named after Pyro, the Greek god of fire. These extremophiles thrive at temperatures above 90°C in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Different Pyrococcus species survive in various extreme conditions—some are resistant to ionizing radiation while others tolerate extreme pressure and acidity. Their proteins have evolved remarkable thermostability through specialized intramolecular interactions.
💡 Did you know?
Pyrococcus furiosus ('furiously burning') grows optimally at 100°C and is used in PCR machines for DNA amplification.
Other options people guess
- Methanopyrus kandleri
- Thermococcus atlanticus
- Thermobacterium
Topics
- extremophiles
- archaea
- hydrothermal-vents
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