|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
thermophilic
thermophilic Describing an organism that lives and grows optimally at extremely high temperatures, typically over 40°C. The majority are prokaryotes, such as the archaebacteria found in hot springs and in undersea hydrothermal vents (thermoacidophils); some of these (called hyperthermophiles) thrive at temperatures above 80°C and can survive at temperatures above the boiling point of water. Some eukaryotes, especially certain protoctists and fungi, are capable of surviving temperatures up to about 60°C. Thermophiles have various adaptations in order to thrive at such high temperatures. For example, their proteins and nucleic acids have structural modifications that give them much greater heat stability, so that the cell machinery is able to function. Also, the chemical makeup of their cell membranes is adapted, for example by inclusion of lipids rich in saturated fatty acids. Compare mesophilic; psychrophilic.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"thermophilic." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "thermophilic." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-thermophilic.html "thermophilic." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-thermophilic.html |
|
thermophile
ther·mo·phile / ˈ[unvoicedth]ərməˌfīl/ • n. Microbiology a bacterium or other microorganism that grows best at higher than normal temperatures. DERIVATIVES: ther·mo·phil·ic / ˌ[unvoicedth]ərməˈfilik/ adj. |
|
|
Cite this article
"thermophile." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "thermophile." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-thermophile.html "thermophile." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-thermophile.html |
|
thermophile
thermophile An extremophile (domain Archaea) that thrives in environments where the temperature is high, typically up to 60°C. Compare HYPERTHERMOPHILE.
|
|
|
Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-thermophile.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-thermophile.html |
|
thermophile
thermophile An extremophile (domain Archaea) that thrives in environments where the temperature is high, typically up to 60°C. Compare hyperthermophile.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-thermophile.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-thermophile.html |
|
thermophile
thermophile An extremophile (domain Archaea) that thrives in environments where the temperature is high, typically up to 60°C. Compare HYPERTHERMOPHILE.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-thermophile.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "thermophile." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-thermophile.html |
|
thermophilic
thermophilic (therm-oh-fil-ik) adj. describing organisms, especially bacteria, that grow best at temperatures of 48–85°C.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"thermophilic." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "thermophilic." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-thermophilic.html "thermophilic." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-thermophilic.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
