Which of the following extremophiles might researchers most likely use as a model for the earliest organisms on Earth?
A) a bacterium capable of living at extremely high salinity
B) a bacterium found on another planet or moon
C) an archaean capable of surviving in the polar ice caps
D) an anaerobic archaean species
E) a bacterium that thrives in a highly acidic environment

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anaerobic archaea species are considered models for the earliest organisms on Earth because the early Earth's atmosphere was anoxic (lacking oxygen), and these organisms can survive without oxygen, which aligns with conditions of early Earth.

Which of the Following Extremophiles Might Researchers Most Likely Use