psychrophile

(noun)

An organism that can live and thrive at temperatures much lower than normal; a form of extremophile.

Related Terms

Examples of psychrophile in the following topics:

  • Psychrophilic Crenarchaeota

    • Psychrophiles crenarchaeotes are extremophilic organisms that are capable of growth and reproduction in cold temperatures.
    • Psychrophiles or cryophiles (adj. cryophilic) are extremophilic organisms that are capable of growth and reproduction in cold temperatures, ranging from −15°C to +10°C.
    • Most psychrophiles are bacteria or archaea, and psychrophily is present in widely diverse microbial lineages within those broad groups.
    • Psychrophiles are characterized by lipid cell membranes chemically resistant to the stiffening caused by extreme cold, and often create protein 'antifreezes' to keep their internal space liquid and protect their DNA even in temperatures below water's freezing point.
    • Beginning in 1992, data were published that reported sequences of genes belonging to the Crenarchaea in marine environments making these bacteria psychrophiles or cryophiles.

  • Classification of Microorganisms by Growth Temperature

    • Organisms that prefer cold environments are termed psychrophilic, those preferring warmer temperatures are termed thermophilic and those thriving in extremely hot environments are hyperthermophilic.

  • Microbial Growth Cycle

    • Those surviving at high temperatures are thermophiles and microorganisms surviving at very low temperatures are called psychrophiles.

  • Growth Rate and Temperature

    • Organisms that prefer extreme environments are known as extremophiles: those that prefer cold environments are termed psychrophilic, those preferring warmer temperatures are termed thermophilic or thermotrophs and those thriving in extremely hot environments are hyperthermophilic.

  • Types of Microorganisms

    • Based on their habitat, all Archaeans can be divided into the following groups: methanogens (methane-producing organisms), halophiles (archaeans that live in salty environments), thermophiles (archaeans that live at extremely hot temperatures), and psychrophiles (cold-temperature Archaeans).