9 Extremophile
The simplest definition of “extremophile” is an organism that thrives in extreme biotic environmental condition. To put it simply: it is an organism that is tolerant to environmental extremes and that has evolved to grow optimally under one or more of these extreme conditions, hence the suffix ‘phile’:, meaning “one who loves.” Conditions covered include high or low temperature, pressure, acidity, alkalinity, salinity, or desiccation; or in the presence of organic solvents, heavy metals, normally toxic substances, or radiation. These organisms are dominants in the evolutionary history of our planet. Dating back to more than 40 million years, they have continued to thrive in the most extreme conditions naming them one of the most abundant lifeforms. Earth is graced with such places which exhibit these extremes and surprisingly, we find life in these places; glaciers, volcanic areas, desert, deep water vents, hot water springs, deep sea and the poles. They are available in all forms...