MODERN MARINE HYPERTHERMOPHILIC ARCHAEA SHARE MANY OF THE METABOLIC PATHWAYS AND ENERGY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS ATTRIBUTED TO EARLY LIFE. IN ADDITION TO THRIVING IN ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE INHOSPITABLE TO MOST SPECIES MEMBERS OF THE ANAEROBIC THERMOCOCCALES ARE ALSO KNOWN TO SURVIVE EXTENDED PERIODS (>1 YEAR) AT VERY LOW TEMPERATURES WHEN DRIFTING ON OCEAN CURRENTS TO COLONIZE NEW THERMAL AREAS. THESE OLIGOPLOID MICROBES REGULARLY SURVIVE NEAR 100 C TEMPERATURE CHANGES DRAMATIC DIFFERENCES IN SALINITY AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC SHIFTS AND MONTHS ADRIFT WITHOUT ACCESS TO NUTRIENTS. AS BOTH GENETIC CONTEXT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS HEAVILY INFLUENCE PHENOTYPE THE CONTEMPORARY THERMOCOCCALES PROVIDE AN IDEAL GENETICALLY-ACCESSIBLE PLATFORM TO MONITOR THE INFLUENCE OF MUTATION RATE AND DNA REPLICATION STRATEGIES ON THE EVOLUTION OF GENOMES.

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

Investigators