Strain 121 is a single-celled microbe, of the domain Archaea. Originally found 200 miles (300 km) away from Puget Sound in a hydrothermal vent, it is a hyperthermophile, able to survive and reproduce at 121 °C (250 °F). This ability is what gave the microbe its name: It is the only known form of life that can tolerate such incredibly high temperatures.

The ability to grow at 121 degrees Celsius is significant because medical equipment is exposed to this temperature for sterilisation in an autoclave. Prior to the 2003 discovery of Strain 121, a fifteen-minute exposure to autoclave temperatures was believed to kill all living organisms.

Strain 121 metabolizes by reducing iron oxide.

External links and references

• Guardian News
• Pulse of the Planet
• New Scientist article
• Science Daily article
• NSF "Microbe from Depths Takes Life to Hottest Known Limit"

Archaea