“May I ask what this is for?” The pharmacy assistant looks at me quizzically. I just requested some coronavirus tests, a urine sample pot, and a sterile scalpel blade. Oh, and latex gloves, please. “We want to see if there’s an extreme life form hiding inside your dishwasher,” I explain. “I see,” she said carefully, and hurried off to consult her colleague.
I admit it’s an unusual shopping list. To explain that, we have to rewind to June, when we found research on bacteria that can survive in environments that humans would consider extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, corrosive liquids, or powerful radiation. Typically, scientists head to exotic locations to find these microbes, such as the scorching hot volcanic springs of Yellowstone National Park or the frozen deserts of Antarctica. But you don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to find them, the study says. Perhaps extreme loving microbes are not only surviving, but thriving. Among the kitchen appliances.
That was it. I had to find out if my kitchen was really inhabited by microorganisms like the list of superhero powers. In the process, I gained a new appreciation for the diversity of life. And you’ll never look at a coffee machine quite the same way again.
Extremely affectionate microbes are a treasure trove for bioprospectors who explore the natural world in search of biotechnological innovations. For example, PCR tests for the coronavirus rely on a DNA copying enzyme that was first isolated from bacteria. Thermas Aquatics They live in hot springs and can withstand temperatures hot enough to poach eggs.
Source: www.newscientist.com
