 Microcosm
The short winter break is over, and so are the introductory classes - we've entered the part of the calendar marked “Here be dragons!” One of the dragons to be slain this semester goes by the name MBG338: Microbiology, and it appears that interesting bacteria are to be discussed. Of course, my meager knowledge does not compare with those of my instructors, but collecting information about bizarre creatures happens to be a hobby of mine, bacteria being no exception - so odd bacteria this week's topic will be. Let's hope I don't mess up!
The first bacterium I'd like to draw attention to is called Deinococcus radiodurans. The name's a mouthful, and apparently means something along the lines of “terrifying berry, withstands radiation” (Taxonomy is a blessed field indeed, as it contains names like that and Vampyroteuthis infernalis, literally “vampire squid from hell” - but that's a tale for another week.) And it does precisely that - it has a radiation resistance so great that even after the bacterium is all but dead, it patches itself right back up within hours! So hardy is this bacterium that it may be able to survive on other planets - and indeed an extraterrestial origin was suggested for it, though it is very unlikely. There's also work on utilizing the bacterium in data storage that can survive nuclear attacks - while paper and computers alike burn, D. radiodurans does not.
Another peculiar bacterium bears the equally long-winded name Desulforudis audaxviator. Unlike the hardy Deinococcus, this one is rather fragile - contact with oxygen kills it. Like a Chinese immortal living in solitude atop his mountain, it lives deep underground, away from oxygen and predators - and everything else, for that matter. This humble bacterium is an ecosystem unto itself, able to synthesize all its needs from inorganic sources - the first known organism to do so. All it relies on is radioactive decay liberating chemicals from the surrounding environment, which it utilizes as a source for both energy and precursors for its organic compounds. The bacterium's name is a reference to Jules Verne's famous book A Journey to the Center of the Earth - A secret message in the book reads:
“In Sneffels Joculis craterem, quem delibat umbra Scartaris, Julii intra kalendas descende, audax viator, et terrestre centrum attinges; quod feci. Arne Saknussemm.”
Audax viator means “bold traveler,” and the message urges the reader to descend into the center of the Earth - which our bacterial traveler certainly seems to be doing! On that note I will end this week's column. Have a nice semester! BY ALPER ÖZKAN (MBG/III)
d_ozkan@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
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