Deinococcus radiodurans

Definition

Deinococcus radiodurans is an extremophilic bacterium known for its extraordinary resistance to ionizing radiation and other environmental stresses. It is often called the world's toughest bacterium due to its ability to survive extreme conditions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Deinococcus radiodurans can withstand doses of ionizing radiation up to 5,000 Gray, which is more than 1,000 times the dose that would kill a human.
2. It has a highly efficient DNA repair system that allows it to quickly mend its genome after exposure to damaging agents.
3. D. radiodurans has a unique arrangement of its genome into tightly packed toroidal structures, which helps protect its DNA from damage.
4. This bacterium was first discovered in 1956 during experiments on food sterilization using gamma radiation.
5. D. radiodurans is also resistant to desiccation, ultraviolet light, and oxidative stress.

Review Questions

Related terms

Extremophile: An organism that thrives in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth.

Ionizing Radiation:

Radiation with enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, thus creating ions.

DNA Repair Mechanisms: Biological processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to its DNA molecules that encode its genome.