NASA-Funded Research Finds Complex Life Defying Record Heat
Lee esta historia en español aquí. NASA-supported scientists have discovered an organism that lives at extreme temperatures previously thought impossible for complex life. High temperatures can cause the destruction of necessary cell components, which is a big problem for cells with complex parts like a nucleus encasing delicate genetic information. In the heated waters of […]
NASA-funded researchers have discovered a complex organism that thrives at temperatures previously thought to be impassable for advanced life forms. The amoeba, known as Incendiamoeba cascadensis, or the "fire amoeba," can survive in waters reaching up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius) during reproduction, although it remains active up to 147 degrees Fahrenheit (64 Celsius).
The previous upper limit for survival of eukaryotes, a group of organisms that includes animals, plants, and fungi, was believed to be 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 Celsius). High temperatures can damage essential cellular components, especially for complex organisms like eukaryotes that possess a nucleus and various organelles. The study, published in the journal Cell, suggests that I. cascadensis possesses unique adaptations that enable it to withstand extreme temperatures.
Scientists discovered that the organism's genes help stabilize its DNA and protect it from damage, while also allowing it to sense and respond to its environment. These findings could revolutionize our understanding of the boundaries of life and the potential for complex organisms to exist in extreme conditions, such as on other planets like Mars.
Written by urgent.news from NASA's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- NASA-Funded Research Finds Complex Life Defying Record Heat science.nasa.gov
