5Lena is researching extremophile bacteria in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. She collected samples from 3 vents, containing 1,248, 1,576, and 987 microbial colonies respectively. After analysis, she found that 18% of the colonies across all samples were dormant. How many active microbial colonies did she observe in total? - Aurero
Title: Discovery of Extremophiles: Lena’s Deep-Sea Vent Research Reveals Insights into Microbial Dormancy
Title: Discovery of Extremophiles: Lena’s Deep-Sea Vent Research Reveals Insights into Microbial Dormancy
In the mysterious depths of the ocean, where sunlight never reaches and pressures crush conventional understanding, researcher Dr. Lena is pioneering breakthroughs in understanding extremophile bacteria thriving in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Her recent expedition uncovered fascinating microbial life across three distinct hydrothermal vents—yielding clues about how life persists in extreme conditions.
Dr. Lena collected microbial samples from three active vent sites, each teeming with microorganisms uniquely adapted to survive in high temperature, intense pressure, and chemically rich environments. The counts revealed significant variation: the first vent yielded 1,248 colonies, the second hosted 1,576 colonies, and the third contained 987 microbial colonies. These samples alone represent immense biological diversity, offering invaluable data for astrobiology and biotechnology.
Understanding the Context
After comprehensive laboratory analysis, Dr. Lena determined that 18% of the total microbial colonies across all samples were dormant—microbes alive but not actively growing, likely as a survival strategy in the volatile vent environments. To calculate the number of active colonies, first, we find the total microbial colonies observed:
1,248 + 1,576 + 987 = 3,811 total microbial colonies
Next, 18% of 3,811 are dormant:
0.18 × 3,811 = 685.98 ≈ 686 dormant colonies (rounded to nearest whole number)
Key Insights
Subtracting dormant colonies from the total gives the number of active colonies:
3,811 – 686 = 3,125 active microbial colonies
This discovery emphasizes the remarkable resilience of extremophiles and underscores how even in Earth’s most inhospitable environments, microbial life remains dynamically present—dormant and awake. Dr. Lena’s research not only deepens our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems but could also inform future searches for life beyond our planet.
Explore how extremophiles like those in hydrothermal vents expand the boundaries of biology—and what they teach us about life’s tenacity in extreme worlds.
