Question: How does Deinococcus radiodurans with stand high levels of radiation?

Kevin Motherway answered on 13 Nov 2014:

You might have heard the phrase “Nature abhors a vacuum”. In other words no matter what the conditions nature will always find a way. Humans have even evolved to be able to live in the vacuum of space (6 months at a time). Bacteria have been found in deep mines living inside rocks 4 km underground. There is always something that will not just survive, but will thrive. Whether its extreme cold, heat or even radiation most life cannot tolerate it but that just leaves all the more room, food and resources for those creatures hardy enough to stand it. That’s what Natural Section or “survival of the fittest is all about. When faced with a challenge those that can survive will then thrive when all the weaklings have been wiped out (thankfully human society isn’t like that!). So while it might look like Deinococcus radiodurans was “designed” to survive, its just that its the one that survived and thrived for that particular niche.

Deinococcus radiodurans is a very good example of an Extremophile or like the Special Forces of bacteria that can survive in almost any conditions. That means that Deinococcus radiodurans or a bacteria like it is a very good candidate for life on Mars where we have found water!

Great question, I had to Google what Deinococcus radiodurans was! I’ve been involved with clean ups of oil spills where we deliberately spread extremophile bacteria that just love muching up oil while all the others die out.