Why bacteria, the very simple organism, can live in the extreme environment?

the animals which are evolved for long long time can't do.

Why bacteria, the very simple organism, can live in the extreme environment?
evolution
Reply:they reproduce quickly so they evolve quickly which makes them adaptable. If a few survive in a harsh environment and there is a source of food they will soon multiply and colonise a new niche!
Reply:Because they are so simple, they have less to go wrong with them. Same way a yo-yo has less problems then say, a computer. Have fun!
Reply:bcuz it can fit in to any enviroment
Reply:Recent research has shown that bacteria have an extraordinary resistance even to the most severe and harsh conditions. Particularly, the bacteria known as spores are resistant to extremely high temperatures and drought for extended periods. This is why it is difficult to destroy certain microbes.
Reply:Adaptation. Look at pyrococcus, living at temperatures that would fry us...


Their membranes are adapted to not be destroyed by heat among other things. Biggest issue is DNA degradation by heat; since DNA cannot be adapted, they developed dna polymerases that replicate dna so fast it's not funny, thus dna damage is minimal.
Reply:as an appendix to the guy above me, the upper limit is actually predicted to be the temperature at which ATP breaksdown.





The answer to your question is to do with the rate of replication. Because there is only one cell, with e.coli, it divides in 20min....so in a day, there are literally millions of bacteria, each of which could be slightly different, adapted to live in other conditions.





Higher life forms are more evovled, but evolved to different enviromental conditions.

ivy