Organisms which require extreme physico-chemical conditions for their optimum growth and proliferation. Extremophilic microorganisms are e.g.
thermophiles or psychrophiles,
halophiles, alkalophiles or acidophiles, osmophiles and barophiles, based on their growth at extremes of temperature,
salt concentration, pH,
osmolarity or pressure, respectively.
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992))
on page 153
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A.Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.
