Anna Howard's Deinococcus Radiodurans Research Notes
"Where's the monkey? I need something to shoot." -Capt. Jack Sparrow
Deinococcus Radiodurans- Structure 
DNA is able to repair itself very easily when broken up by ionizing radiation*, UV lights, and hydrogen peroxide. All of these are damaging to the DNA. The cells of deinococcus radiodurans can keep growing when under constant radiation, and there is no difference in the growth. While the DNA is being repaired the cell can shut itself down. It takes about 12 to 24 hours for the DNA to be repaired in the cell. The protein RecA is most important element in the repairing of DNA. RecA makes copies of other parts of the DNA that are not broken and puts the DNA back together with the copies. Double strand breaks of the DNA can be repaired in Deinococcus Radiodurans. It is a Tetrad* forming soil bacterium. The DNA of deinococcus radiodurans are in stacked loops.
A deinococcus radioduran cell does not have a spore, hard capsule, around it. In most bacteria this is what usually resists radiation. Deinococcus radiodurans are able to go without water for a very long time because there is nowhere for the cell to hold water. In other bacteria cells water can be held in the spore. The cell is also a pinkish color.
Deinococcus Radiodurans-Classification
Deinococcus Radiodurans are non-pathogenic bacterium. They are also obligate aerobic*.
Here is the classification of Deinococcus Radioduran:
Kingdom: Eubacteria
Phylum: Deinococcus- Thermus
Class: Deinococci
Order: Deinococcales
Family: Deinococcaceae
Genus: Deinococcus Radiodurans
Deinococcus Radiodurans- Interesting Facts
Deinococcus Radiodurans can take 3000 times more radiation than the E. Coli in humans.
*-denotes definitions defined on the definitions link
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