ACIDOPHILE Meaning and
Definition
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An acidophile is an organism, commonly a microorganism or plant, that thrives and flourishes in extremely acidic environments. Acidophiles exhibit a remarkable ability to survive and even thrive in conditions where the pH level is significantly below 7. These organisms have adapted to acidic habitats such as acid soils, volcanic springs, acid mine drainages, and acidic lakes.
The term acidophile is derived from the Latin words "acidus" meaning sour and "philos" meaning lover. Acidophiles have evolved various mechanisms to combat the detrimental effects of high proton concentrations associated with acidity. They possess specialized cellular machinery including proton pumps or ion transporters that help maintain their intracellular pH within a range suitable for cellular functions.
Several acidophiles also produce acidotolerant enzymes, which can function optimally in highly acidic conditions. Some acidophiles engage in oxidizing ferrous iron (Fe2+) that is typically present in acid mine drainages, producing ferric iron (Fe3+), which contributes to the formation of acidic conditions in these environments.
Acidophiles play a significant role in biogeochemical cycles, as they contribute to the weathering of minerals, release of ions into the environment, and the degradation of organic matter. Additionally, acidophiles have important industrial applications, such as bioleaching, which involves the extraction of metals from low-grade ores by microorganisms thriving in acidic conditions.
Overall, acidophiles demonstrate remarkable adaptability to extreme acidity and have proven to be valuable organisms for scientific study and technological advancements.
Common Misspellings for ACIDOPHILE
- zcidophile
- scidophile
- wcidophile
- qcidophile
- axidophile
- avidophile
- afidophile
- adidophile
- acudophile
- acjdophile
- ackdophile
- acodophile
- ac9dophile
- ac8dophile
- acisophile
- acixophile
- acicophile
- acifophile
- acirophile
Etymology of ACIDOPHILE
The word "acidophile" is derived from two roots: "acid-" and "-phile".
1. "Acid-" derives from the Latin word "acidus", meaning "sour" or "acid". It further traces back to the Latin verb "acēre", meaning "to be sour".
2. "-Phile" comes from the combining form derived from the Greek word "philos", which translates to "loving" or "liking".
Combining these two roots, "acidophile" is formed. The term is typically used in biology to describe organisms, such as bacteria or plants, that thrive in acidic environments.
Similar spelling words for ACIDOPHILE
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