Question

Why are halophiles called so?

Answer 1

Halophiles:

1. Halophiles are salt-loving or halophilic archaebacteria that occur in salt lakes and salty fish.
2. Halophiles belong to the group archaebacteria.
3. Archaebacteria are said to be obligate or facultative anaerobes meaning they flourish in absence of oxygen and can undergo methanogenesis.
4. The cell membranes of these Archaebacteria are made up of lipids.
5. The rigid cell wall is also responsible for providing shape and support to the Archaebacteria & normally prevents them from bursting under hypotonic conditions.
6. They do not possess membrane-bound organelles like nuclei, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes, or chloroplast.
7. These can also withstand very high temperature and pressure conditions.
8. For eg – Halococcus and Halobacterium.