Thermophiles belong to kingdom Korarchaeota within the domain archaea;
False
True
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: False
Thermophiles are heat-loving microorganisms that thrive at high temperatures, often found in environments like hot springs, hydrothermal vents, and geothermal soils. While some thermophiles belong to the kingdom Korarchaeota, they are not exclusively limited to this kingdom. In fact, thermophiles are found across multiple groups within the domain Archaea and even in the domain Bacteria.
Within the domain Archaea, several groups contain thermophilic species. These include:
- Crenarchaeota, which includes many extreme thermophiles and hyperthermophiles. Members of this group are often found in hot, acidic environments such as sulfur springs.
- Euryarchaeota, another major archaeal group, also includes thermophiles and even hyperthermophiles. It contains organisms like Thermococcus and Pyrococcus, which can thrive at temperatures over 100°C.
- Korarchaeota is a less well-known and recently discovered group. While it does include thermophilic species, it is not the only archaeal kingdom where thermophiles are found. Additionally, Korarchaeota is still poorly characterized because many of its members have not been cultured in laboratory settings.
Some thermophiles are also found in the domain Bacteria. For example, Thermus aquaticus, a well-known bacterium used in PCR technology, is a thermophile from the bacterial domain. This shows that thermophily is not exclusive to the Archaea domain or to the Korarchaeota kingdom.
In summary, the statement is false because thermophiles are found in several groups, not just within Korarchaeota. They are diverse and widespread across both major domains of prokaryotic life, Archaea and Bacteria. The ability to live in high-temperature environments is a trait that evolved independently in different lineages.