Originally published January 31 2005
Microbes in hot springs using hydrogen as energy source
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
It has long been thought that microbes living in hot springs such as the famous springs of Yellowstone National Park used sulfur as the basis for their metabolism. However, a recent study done by University of Colorado biologists has revealed that the microbes use hydrogen as their primary energy source. The discovery has implications for the search for life beyond Earth's atmosphere, where oxygen is rare but hydrogen is ample.
Microbes living in the brilliantly colored hot springs of Yellowstone National Park use primarily hydrogen for fuel, a discovery University of Colorado at Boulder researchers say bodes well for life in extreme environments on other planets and could add to understanding of bacteria inside the human body.
A team of CU-Boulder biologists led by Professor Norman Pace, one of the world's leading experts on molecular evolution and microbiology, published their report "Hydrogen and bioenergetics in the Yellowstone geothermal system" this week in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The team's findings, based on several years of research at the park, refute the popular idea that sulfur is the main source of energy for tiny organisms living in thermal features.
Genetic analysis of the varieties of microbes living in the hot springs communities revealed that they all prefer hydrogen as an energy source.
They also observed ubiquitous H2 in all the hot springs at concentrations sufficient for microbial bioenergetics.
Thermodynamic models based on field data confirmed that hydrogen metabolism was the most likely fuel source in these environments.
"This work presents some interesting associated questions," said John Spear, lead author of the report.
"We've seen evidence of water on Mars, and we know that on Earth, hydrogen can be produced biogenetically by photosynthesis and fermentation or non-biogenetically by water reacting with iron-bearing rock.
There are many examples of bacteria living in extreme environments -- including the human body -- using hydrogen as fuel, according to Spear.
Instead of relying on traditional techniques of microbiology that utilize cultures grown in the lab, the CU-Boulder team used methodology developed by Pace to genetically analyze the composition of the microbial community as it appeared in the field.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml