Polar Microbiology

<p>Polar microbiology is a promising field of research that can tell us much about the<br />fundamental features of life. The microorganisms that inhabit Arctic and Antarctic<br />environments are important not only because of the unique species they represent but also<br />because of their diverse and unusual physiological and biochemical properties. Furthermore<br />microorganisms living in Polar Regions provide useful models for general questions in<br />ecology and evolutionary biology given the reduced complexity of their ecosystems the<br />relative absence of confounding effects associated with higher plants or animals and the<br />severe biological constraints imposed by the polar environment. In terms of applied science<br />the unique cold-adapted enzymes and other molecules of polar microorganisms provide<br />numerous opportunities for biotechnological development. Another compelling reason to<br />study polar microbial ecosystems is the fact that they are likely to be among the ecosystems<br />most strongly affected by global change. For these reasons polar microbiology is a thriving<br />branch of science with the potential to provide new insights into a wide range of basic and<br />applied issues in biological science. In this context it is timely to review and highlight the<br />progress so far and discuss exciting future perspectives. In this special issue some of the<br />leaders in the field describe their work ideas and findings.</p>