Conan the Bacterium — printable fact sheet

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Conan the Bacterium

Deinococcus radiodurans

Deinococcus radiodurans, commonly nicknamed 'Conan the Bacterium,' is a remarkable microorganism celebrated for its extreme resistance to ionizing radiation, desiccation, and other environmental stresses. This spherical bacterium can survive doses of radiation thousands of times…

Classification

Invertebrate

Family

Deinococcaceae

Habitat

Soil and extreme environments

Diet

Heterotroph

Conservation status

Least Concern

Lifespan

Indefinite under laboratory conditions

Weight

1-2 picograms (pg) per cell

Scientific name

Deinococcus radiodurans

Did you know?

Deinococcus radiodurans can stitch its shattered DNA back together within hours after exposure to extreme radiation.
Deinococcus radiodurans can survive acute doses of radiation up to 5,000 Gy with no loss of viability. Its name means 'strange berry that withstands radiation' in Greek and Latin. Scientists have engineered this bacterium for use in bioremediation of radioactive waste.

What I learned

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