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Strain 121 is a single-celled microbe, of the domain Archaea. Originally found 200 miles (320 km) away from Puget Sound in a hydrothermal vent, it is a hyperthermophile, able to survive and reproduce at 121 °C (250 °F). This ability is what gave the microbe its name: It is the only known form of life that can tolerate such incredibly high temperatures. 130 °C (266 °F) is proven to be only bacteriostatic for Strain 121, meaning that although growth is halted the bacterium remains viable.
The ability to grow at 121 degrees Celsius is significant because medical equipment is exposed to this temperature for sterilisation in an autoclave. Prior to the 2003 discovery of Strain 121, a fifteen-minute exposure to autoclave temperatures was believed to kill all living organisms.
Strain 121 metabolizes by reducing iron oxide.
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