Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: duncan on 11/11/2004 13:57:43

Title: Kurile arc age and microbes
Post by: duncan on 11/11/2004 13:57:43
Does anybody has an idea on the age of the Kuril island arc, the stretch of islands between Japan and Kamchatka?
I wonder about this since I study a bacterium that has some characteristics that allows you to think its around for a few billion years. However, it was isolated from a thermal pond on kunashir island (the most southern island of the Kurils). The vulcanos on the island seem to be holocene in origin, but the arc itself may have formed in the neogene. At least, that is what I  managed to dig up. Since I'm a microbiologist and not a geologist I'm still in doubt, could anyone validate?
With the information I'll try to compile a theory on how this bacterium ended up on the island...
Title: Re: Kurile arc age and microbes
Post by: chris on 12/11/2004 08:04:19
Is this some kind of archebacterium then ? Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx
Title: Re: Kurile arc age and microbes
Post by: duncan on 12/11/2004 08:33:35
It is an eubacterium. Though I prefer to speak of bacteria and archaea. It grows optimally at temperatures of 65 - 70 degrees celcius. Its subtrate is CO and it produces H2, a very simple metabolism. The temperature and the metabolism allow the thought that it is close to the last common ancestor of bacteria and archaea.

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