The polymerase used in PCR was isolated from ____, which typically lives in ____.

A) Escherichia coli; the mammalian gut
B) Haemophilus influenzae; hot springs
C) Homo sapiens; warm climates
D) Thermus aquaticus; hydrothermal vents
E) Streptococcus pneumoniae; mucous membranes

Polymerase

An enzyme that synthesizes long chains or polymers of nucleic acids.

Thermus Aquaticus

A species of bacterium that can tolerate high temperatures, from which Taq polymerase, an enzyme used in PCR, is derived.

Hydrothermal Vents

Deep-sea features where mineral-rich water is released from the Earth's crust, supporting unique ecosystems independent of sunlight.