Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

Author:      williamh
Text:        Are there biological communities near hydrothermal vents in the 
ocean?  Is there any life inside the hydrothermal vent?

Response #:  1 of 2
Author:      wizkid
Text:        If the presence of microorganisms in hot springs and geysers are 
any indication, I am certain there is life inside hydrothermal vents.  These 
heat loving organisms are termed "thermophiles" and thrive where other life 
dies.  They are able to survive in extreme heat due to the unique way their 
proteins are synthesized.  The May 1993 Discover has a special article on 
thermophiles.

Response #:  2 of 2
Author:      moodywj
Text:        Life at high temperature became very interesting to molecular 
biologists recently.  The enormously useful technique known as PCR, 
(polymerase chain reaction), by which very small amounts of rare DNA can be 
amplified to large concentrations (Jurassic Park!), depends on having a DNA 
polymerase (the enzyme that synthesizes complementary DNA strands during 
replication of chromosomes), that can work at high temperatures, or at least 
can survive repeated high temperature cycles.  PCR depends on synthesis of DNA 
followed by forced separation of the daughter strands at high temperature, 
followed by new synthesis, to amplify DNA exponentially.  At any rate, normal 
bacterial polymerase will not work because the high temperature cycles kill 
it.  Enter the now infamous, patented Taq polymerase, isolated from Thermus 
aquaticus, a hot spring bacterium, which works after heating to up to 94 C!  
So knowledge of life at high temperature allowed molecular biologists to get 
PCR to work, with all its benefits in cloning very rare genes and amplifying 
small amounts of DNA for forensic work etc.