NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus has a circular chromosome that consists of 2, 992, 245 bp. Another sequenced species, S. tokodaii has a circular chromosome as well but is slightly smaller with 2, 694, 756 bp. Both species lack the genes ftsZ and minD, which has been characteristic of sequenced Crenarchaeota.

Detailed explanation-2: -Sulfolobus Solfataricus | Encyclopedia MDPI. Saccharolobus solfataricus is a species of thermophilic archaeon. It was transferred from the genus Sulfolobus to the new genus Saccharolobus with the description of Saccharolobus caldissimus in 2018.

Detailed explanation-3: -Sulfolobus is one of the best characterized genera of the Archaea. It grows aerobically and either facultatively or obligately heterotrophically and can be easily cultivated in liquid media and on solid supports. Some Sulfolobus species, like S. solfataricus, have become model organisms of the Crenarchaeota.

Detailed explanation-4: -The archaeal genus Sulfolobus belongs to the Crenarchaeota branch, one of the two main archaeal phyla, together with the Euryarchaeota. The organisms are obligate aerobes that grow optimally around 80°C and pH 3 (Huber and Stetter, 2001), i.e. in hot acid.