Extremophile - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

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An extremophile is a type of organism that can live and thrive in extreme conditions that would be harmful or deadly to most other living things. These conditions can include very high or low temperatures, extremely acidic or alkaline environments, high salt concentrations, or high pressure, like at the bottom of the ocean. Extremophiles are fascinating because they show how life can adapt to survive in places we once thought were impossible for life to exist. Studying extremophiles helps scientists understand the limits of life on Earth and offers clues about where life might exist elsewhere in the universe.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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