1. Deinococcus Radiodurans
“Strange Berry that Withstands Radiation”

2. Classification
Clade: Actinomycate- D. radiodurans decomposes organic matter
Strain: R1
Shape/Arrangement: Coccus- spherical
Four cells stick together, forming a tetrad

3. Metabolism eXtremophilic Able to withstand harsh
conditions such as cold,
vacuum,
dehydration and
acid climates

4. Habitat
D. radiodurans natural habitat is not yet know because it has only been discovered recently (1956) and little is known about the bacterium.
Strains of this bacteria have grown from meat, soil and fecal matter.

5. Adaptations Polyextremophile- able to survive
cold, vacuum, dehydration,
and acid conditions
It is also resistant to radiation, ultraviolet
light, electrophilic agents,
desiccation
(extreme dryness) and oxidizing
It does not form endospores
Aerobic- uses oxygen for energy

6. Disease-Causing???? This bacteria does not cause disease and little is
known about it because it is
newly found

7. Gram-………?? The cell stain is gram - positive but its cell wall is
similar to that
of a
gram
negative
bacteria

8. FUNction and Impact on the Environment
This bacteria has the ability to repair damaged DNA and small fragments from chromosomes by isolating damage segments in a concentrated area. This is because it has additional copies of its genome.
Genes from other bacteria have been inserted into D. radiodurans for environmental clean up.
Certain strains can be used to break down organic chemicals, solvents and heavy metals in radioactive waste sites.

9. WOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!
The Guinness Book of World Records listed Deinococcus Radiodurans as “the world’s toughest bacterium.”
D. radiodurans is able to withstand blasts of radiation thousands of times the force which will kill a human!
In a laboratory setting a can of meat was exposed to radiation, thought to kill all life forms. The meat unexpectedly spoiled, and onto us, Deinococcus radiodurans was discovered.

10. Bibliography
Angela St. Vrain