[Campbell Biology P.634] Extreme thermophiles like Pyrococcus furiosus and "strain 121" can ... | Practice Question

Extreme thermophiles like Pyrococcus furiosus and "strain 121" can survive and thrive at extremely high temperatures e.g., 100°C to 121°C . What is the primary reason for their ability to withstand such conditions, as mentioned in the text?

  • A: They have evolved specialized pigments that reflect excess heat.
  • B: Their DNA and proteins have structural and biochemical adaptations that make them stable at high temperatures.
  • C: They possess a unique circular chromosome that is more resistant to heat denaturation.
  • D: Their cell membranes contain a higher concentration of saturated fatty acids to prevent fluidity at high temperatures.

Explanation

The text explicitly states, "P. furiosus and other extreme thermophiles avoid this fate because they have structural and biochemical adaptations that make their DNA and proteins stable at high temperatures." This directly supports option B. The other options are either not mentioned or are incorrect based on the provided text.