A better genetic copier
The natural hot springs of Beppu, Japan, are a cauldron of microbial life adapted to extreme heat. These environments, known locally as "jigoku" or "hells," feature pools of boiling water and mud, with temperatures that can exceed 100°C (212°F). Within these superheated waters live thermophilic archaea, single-celled organisms whose cellular machinery can withstand conditions that would destroy life from cooler environments. These microbes contain enzymes—called extremozymes—that are tools in biotechnology.
One discovery from this type of environment is a highly accurate, heat-stable DNA polymerase. This enzyme is the engine of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a technique for making billions of copies of a specific DNA sequence. The first mass-marketed PCR enzyme, Taq polymerase, came from a bacterium in Yellowstone's hot springs. Taq polymerase works well at high temperatures but lacks a "proofreading" function, leading to errors during DNA copying. This limitation prompted scientists to search for more accurate enzymes in other geothermal hotspots, including those in Japan.