Meet the 8 toughest microorganisms known to science
1. Deinococcus radiodurans — The Radiation SurvivorDeinococcus radiodurans is often called the toughest bacterium on Earth. It can withstand ionizing radiation doses up to 5,000 grays without loss of viability, and survive short exposures of 15,000 grays. For comparison, 5 grays can be lethal to humans.Its resilience comes from several coordinated mechanisms: Highly efficient DNA repair systems that reassemble shattered chromosomes within hours Multiple genome copies that serve as repair templates Protective proteins that shield cellular components from oxidative damage This microbe was discovered in the 1950s in irradiated canned food. It has since been found in desert soils, nuclear…
