Biology:Thermobiology
Thermobiology is the scientific study of how temperature impacts biology and how organisms have adapted to the temperature of their environments. Examples include the natural selection for adaptations such as thermoregulation in macro-organisms including fur growth in mammals and seasonal shedding of leaves in deciduous plants, but also the reliance of thermophilic bacteria on heat-resistant DNA polymerase and the use of sub-zero cryopreservation of biological tissue in research and medicine. A major branch of thermobiology is the molecular mechanisms of those biological adaptions, such as those observed in selective activation of enzymes and variable membrane permeability.
Thermoregulation in macro-organisms
| Thermoregulation in animals |
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Molecular mechanisms
Enzyme kinetics
Enzymes allow biochemical processes to occur in lower temperature ranges, and can become inactivated at higher temperatures.[1]
Freezing point depression
Protein-mediated
Prevention of crystal formation
RNA Thermometers
Membrane porosity
Mutations
Artificial applications
Food preservation
Mankind has long taken advantage of the natural thermobiological properties of bacterial and mold in food preservation. Techniques that have existed for hundreds of years or even thousands of years, long before humans understood the underlying mechanisms, include boiling, bog butter, canning, confit, cooling, curing, drying, fermentation, freezing, heating, jellying, jugging, kangina, lye, pickling, and sugaring. More modern techniques include aseptic processing, pasteurization, vacuum packing, freeze drying, preservatives, irradiation, electroporation, modified atmosphere, nonthermal plasma, high-pressure food preservation, and biopreservation.
Research
Cryopreservation
Polymerase-chain reactions
Medicine
See also
- Thermoregulation
- Extremophiles
- Biochemistry
- Enzyme kinetics
- Freezing point depression
References
- ↑ Kavanau, J. Lee (1950). "ENZYME KINETICS AND THE RATE OF BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES". J Gen Physiol 34 (2): 193-209. doi:10.1085/jgp.34.2.193. https://rupress.org/jgp/article-abstract/34/2/193/30092/ENZYME-KINETICS-AND-THE-RATE-OF-BIOLOGICAL. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
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