Expert: Walter Hintz - 4/18/2011

Question
Hi. I am doing a presentation on extremophiles in the phylum Archaea. Everywhere I look I seem to get various information on what is what. What I would like to know is what types of extremophiles are from the phylum archaea? Also, are Methanogens considered extremophiles?
Thanks so much for your time.

Answer
Hi christina
Any organism that survives in an environment that would kill most other organisms is considered an extremophile. There fore the designation is somewhat arbitrary. Both the Archaea and Bacteria contain extremeophiles. Some bacteria can survive in hot springs and in Ocean vents. Organisms that metabolize inorganics like sulfur and hydrocarbons like methane are also extremeophiles