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Science 24 November 1967:
Vol. 158. no. 3804, pp. 1012 - 1019
DOI: 10.1126/science.158.3804.1012
Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Life at High Temperatures

Evolutionary, ecological, and biochemical significance of organisms living in hot springs is discussed

Thomas D. Brock 1

1 Indiana University, Bloomington, 47401

The time is now ripe for a concerted attack on the evolutionary, ecological, and molecular aspects of life at high temperatures. Hot springs provide nearly ideal ecosystems for such study, since they are natural environments of great antiquity and relative constancy, where organisms have evolved to meet the environmental challenges of high temperatures. Even from our present limited knowledge, we can draw a number of conclusions.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
CO2 Uptake and Fixation by a Thermoacidophilic Microbial Community Attached to Precipitated Sulfur in a Geothermal Spring.
E. S. Boyd, W. D. Leavitt, and G. G. Geesey (2009)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 75, 4289-4296
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Formation of Multilayered Photosynthetic Biofilms in an Alkaline Thermal Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
S. M. Boomer, K. L. Noll, G. G. Geesey, and B. E. Dutton (2009)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 75, 2464-2475
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Biogeographic and Phylogenetic Diversity of Thermoacidophilic Cyanidiales in Yellowstone National Park, Japan, and New Zealand.
J. A. Toplin, T. B. Norris, C. R. Lehr, T. R. McDermott, and R. W. Castenholz (2008)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 74, 2822-2833
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Effects of Abiotic Factors on the Phylogenetic Diversity of Bacterial Communities in Acidic Thermal Springs.
J. Mathur, R. W. Bizzoco, D. G. Ellis, D. A. Lipson, A. W. Poole, R. Levine, and S. T. Kelley (2007)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 73, 2612-2623
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
From The Cover: Hydrogen and bioenergetics in the Yellowstone geothermal ecosystem.
J. R. Spear, J. J. Walker, T. M. McCollom, and N. R. Pace (2005)
PNAS 102, 2555-2560
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Metagenomics: Application of Genomics to Uncultured Microorganisms.
J. Handelsman (2004)
Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 68, 669-685
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Silicified Microbes in a Geyser Mound: The Enigma of Low-Temperature Cyanobacteria in a High-Temperature Setting.
(2003)
Palaios 18, 87-109
Heat-tolerant Flowering Plants of Active Geothermal Areas in Yellowstone National Park.
R. G. STOUT and T. S. AL-NIEMI (2002)
Ann. Bot. 90, 259-267
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Microbial Activity at Gigapascal Pressures.
A. Sharma, J. H. Scott, G. D. Cody, M. L. Fogel, R. M. Hazen, R. J. Hemley, and W. T. Huntress (2002)
Science 295, 1514-1516
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Relationship between Spring and Geyser Activity and the Deposition and Morphology of High Temperature (> 73{degrees}C) Siliceous Sinter, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, U.S.A..
(2001)
Journal of Sedimentary Research 71, 747-763
Hyperthermophilic Enzymes: Sources, Uses, and Molecular Mechanisms for Thermostability.
C. Vieille and G. J. Zeikus (2001)
Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 65, 1-43
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Thermophilic Fungi: Their Physiology and Enzymes.
R. Maheshwari, G. Bharadwaj, and M. K. Bhat (2000)
Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 64, 461-488
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Thermocrinis ruber gen. nov., sp. nov., a Pink-Filament-Forming Hyperthermophilic Bacterium Isolated from Yellowstone National Park.
R. Huber, W. Eder, S. Heldwein, G. Wanner, H. Huber, R. Rachel, and K. O. Stetter (1998)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 64, 3576-3583
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Life at High Temperatures.
T. D. Brock (1985)
Science 230, 132-138
   Abstract »    PDF »
Physiologically important stabilization of DNA by a prokaryotic histone-like protein.
D. Stein and D. Searcy (1978)
Science 202, 219-221
   Abstract »    PDF »
Bacterial Stromatolites: Origin of Laminations.
W. N. Doemel, W. N. Doemel, and T. D. Brock (1974)
Science 184, 1083-1085
   Abstract »    PDF »
Thermophilic Ostracod: Aquatic Metazoan with the Highest Known Temperature Tolerance.
C. E. Wickstrom and R. W. Castenholz (1973)
Science 181, 1063-1064
   Abstract »    PDF »
Lower pH Limit for the Existence of Blue-Green Algae: Evolutionary and Ecological Implications.
T. D. Brock (1973)
Science 179, 480-483
   Abstract »    PDF »
Limits of Microbial Existence: Temperature and pH.
T. D. Brock and G. K. Darland (1970)
Science 169, 1316-1318
   Abstract »    PDF »
Bacterial Growth Rates above 90{degrees}C in Yellowstone Hot Springs.
T. L. Bott and T. D. Brock (1969)
Science 164, 1411-1412
   Abstract »    PDF »
Fatty Acids in Blue-Green Algae: Possible Relation to Phylogenetic Position.
R. W. Holton, H. H. Blecker, and T. S. Stevens (1968)
Science 160, 545-547
   Abstract »    PDF »


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