DNA in Extreme Environments

DNA is a critical component of organisms and maintaining its integrity in extreme environments poses unique challenges that this project aims to unravel. Extremophiles are organisms which are adapted to extreme environments, in which they not only thrive, but require in order to survive; much can be learnt

from the molecular intricacies of these tenacious organisms. This project aims to understand DNA adap- tations enabling life to thrive in the harshest conditions on Earth, with a particular focus on supercoiling (wherein the DNA helix is twisted upon itself) in extremophile DNA. This phenomenon is utilized by some

extremophiles for DNA stabilization, protecting it from degradation in otherwise damaging environments; though the relative importance of of supercoiling compared to other adaptations is debated. The project's objectives span from building a comprehensive extremophile DNA catalogue to assessing stability, structural

adaptations, and responses to environmental variations. A pioneering aspect involves the induction of su- percoils in non-extremophilic and/or synthetic DNA, offering innovative insights with potential applications in biotechnology, especially in processes demanding DNA stability at elevated temperatures. Understanding

life in extreme environments not only illuminates the remarkable adaptability of organisms to challenging conditions but also unveils essential insights into the limits and diversity of life processes, offering valuable knowledge for fields ranging from astrobiology and ecology to climate change research and biotechnological

innovation