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Extremophiles Chapter 1 Summary

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The text starts out describing the earth’s biosphere as a membrane that stretches from the ends of the earth, encapsulating everything in a layer of life. Edward O. Wilson continues the first chapter by describing some of the most extreme climates of the earth; as well as the microscopic organisms that manage to withstand these conditions. One example being the harsh climate of the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, where freezing temperatures prevent the soil from being warm, rich and nutrient-bearing. However, Wilson goes on to explain how hardy microscopic bacteria were able to survive in spite of these conditions; due to the occasional rush of meltwater from glaciers or ice fields. A further example of an egregious environment that is still habitable by these microbes are the gardens of The Antarctic Sea, where algae is able to endure the harsh conditions of the freezing water by gaining energy from mineral deposits deep within the ocean. Organisms with the ability to weather severe environments with unfavourable conditions are called extremophiles. Many examples of extremophiles are touched on in chapter one of the text. One particular example is the Hyperthermophiles that reside along the underwater volcanic vents that litter the ocean floor. These extremophiles are able to survive and reproduce in water …show more content…

He takes us through the harshest of climate and shows us that even through turmoil, life persists. The chapters intent was to familiarize the reader with the fundamentals required for life and how certain individuals go against all odds and persevere. It also showed to welcome the reader to the idea of the earth's biosphere and how like the earth, we humans have our own biosphere surrounding

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