In: Biology
consider the location of the Deinococcus branch on the tree of life. In light of this data, propose a likely scenario to explain why Deinococcus has both a thick cell wall and outer membrane. Explain your answer.
D. radiodurans is a rather large, spherical bacterium, with a diameter of 1.5 to 3.5 μm. Four cells normally stick together, forming a tetrad. The cells stain Gram-positive, although its cell envelope is unusual and is reminiscent of the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria. It is an obligate aerobic chemoorganoheterotroph.
It is extremely resistant to ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light, desiccation, oxidizing and electrophilic agents. Thus it is highly extremophilic in nature. Because of this condition, Deinococcus has both a thick cell wall and outer membrane to resist extreme changes it faces.