Kevin Paulsen
9/27/13
Assignment 3
Pyrococcus Furiosus
This species belongs to the Archaea domain, the Euryarchaeota kingdom and phylum, and is
part of the Thermococci class. This species is so stable at high temperatures its enzymes are able
to be used in PCR reactions. Due to being able to thrive in these extreme conditions, this species
is generalized to the category of hyperthermophilic bacteria. They are isolated from geothermally
heated marine sediments and are found living in areas around 100 degrees Celsius. These areas
typically include deep sea vents and volcanic marine mud found off of coasts in Italy. This
bacterium works great in the laboratory setting because it has an impressive doubling rate of 37
minutes. It even is pleasing on the eyes to look at it with its abnormal monopolar polytrichous
flagella. This means that it is has multiple flagella strings on one pole of the bacterium. Also, this
bacterium is very interesting as its enzymes contain tungsten which is a rare occurrence believed
to aid in the growth of bacterium. (Kropf, 2013)
References
Kropf, Michelle. "Pyrococcus furiosus." Pyrococcus furiosus. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.
<http://web.mst.edu/~microbio/BIO221_2010/P_furiosus.html>.