Thermus aquaticus
Type: Person
As of November 2026, Thermus aquaticus has been mentioned in one podcast episode on Radiolab (Dec 2025). The thermophilic bacterium (TAQ) discovered in Yellowstone whose polymerase (Taq polymerase) tolerates high temperatures and enabled PCR.
Thermus aquaticus is a species of bacteria that can tolerate high temperatures, one of several thermophilic bacteria that belong to the Deinococcota phylum. It is the source of the heat-resistant enzyme Taq DNA polymerase, one of the most important enzymes in molecular biology because of its use in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA amplification technique.
| Mentioned in | 1 episode on 1 podcast (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| First heard | Dec 2025 on Radiolab |
Who talks about Thermus aquaticus on podcasts?
Thermus aquaticus came up; the most recent mention was Dec 2025 on Radiolab.
- The Age of Aquaticus | Radiolab Podcast on Radiolab (Dec 2025)
What is Thermus aquaticus mentioned alongside?
Thermus aquaticus is most often mentioned alongside Hudson Freeze and Dr. Thomas Brock.
Worked with: Hudson Freeze, Dr. Thomas Brock