Upper temperature limit for presently (as of 2012) known microbial life

Value 122 °C
Organism Microbes
Reference Kallmeyer J, Pockalny R, Adhikari RR, Smith DC, D'Hondt S. Global distribution of microbial abundance and biomass in subseafloor sediment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Oct 2 109(40):16213-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1203849109. p.16215 left column 2nd paragraphPubMed ID22927371
Primary Source Takai K, et al. (2008) Cell proliferation at 122 degrees C and isotopically heavy CH4 production by a hyperthermophilic methanogen under high-pressure cultivation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105: 10949–10954. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0712334105.PubMed ID18664583
Comments P.16215 left column 2nd paragraph: "The maximum sediment thickness used in this calculation for any grid was 4,000 m this depth is the approximate average depth of the 122 °C isotherm, the upper temperature limit for presently known microbial life (primary source), assuming an average geothermal gradient of ~30°C/km."
Entered by Uri M
ID 109974