Chapter 2, Problem 15STP

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

Some unknown organisms are discovered in the deep underground of Earth. What are the two examples of questions that biologists might try to answer by researching these organisms?

Introduction:

The deep underground of earth characterized by high pressure, high temperature, no light, and minuscule nutrient. As per standard calculation for every mile beneath the Earth's surface, the temperature rises 15º F and, the pressure increases simultaneously at a rate of about 7,300 pounds per square inch.

Bacteria and archaea are the two prominent microbes that are present in the deep underground biosphere. The average depth of habitat for this organism is 2.5km to 6km.

Explanation of Solution

The organism found in deep Earth has a very slow and very long life cycle. They are metabolically active but in stasis to conserve the energy for survival.

When some unknown organisms are discovered in the deep underground of Earth, biologists can find the answer to the following questions by researching on them.

1. How these organisms survive the intense pressure in deep underground habitat?
2. What type of metabolic pathway is followed by these organisms for the slow and long life cycle?

Conclusion

In the deep underground of Earth, some organisms can survive for millennia. In the absence of sunlight, they harvest chemical energy from their rocky surroundings.