Objects deep beneath the surface of the ocean are subjected to extremely high pressures. Some bacteria in these environments have adapted to pressures as much as a thousand times atmospheric pressure. How might such bacteria be affected if they were rapidly moved to the surface of the ocean?

Answer 1

If the bacteria were rapidly moved to the surface of the ocean, they would be subjected to a sudden decrease in pressure. This could cause the bacteria to experience a number of physiological changes, such as cell lysis, disruption of metabolic processes, and damage to the cell membrane. Additionally, the bacteria may be unable to survive in the new environment due to the lack of pressure-adapted enzymes and other proteins.