New amoeba replicates at record high temperatures
Researchers reported a newly discovered amoeba, Incendiamoeba cascadensis, from Lassen Volcanic National Park that grows and divides at temperatures up to 145 F (63 C) and survives brief exposures to 158 F (70 C). The species thrives between 131 and 135 F (55–57 C) and stops growing below 108 F (42 C), showing dependence on high heat. At 158 F the cells form protective shells and enter dormancy, recovering after five minutes when cooled to 140 F, but they die at 176 F (80 C). The amoeba's proteins show positively charged surface amino acids, a possible adaptation that raises the known eukaryotic thermal limit and informs studies of life's bounds on Earth and beyond.
A eukaryotic amoeba can replicate at temperatures up to 145 F.
Context
Scientists collected samples at Lassen Volcanic National Park to study heat-loving amoebas. They found a species that needs high temperatures to grow and plan to study its relatives next. That research could help define where complex life…
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