Extreme Environments: Mechanisms of Microbial Adaptation is a collection of papers presented at the symposium on Extreme Environments: Mechanisms of Microbial Adaptation, held at Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California in June 1974. The meeting emphasizes research work leading to an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that allow the organism to survive extreme environments. The book presents lectures and papers on the general aspects of microbial adaptation; effects of temperature and high salt concentration on the various steps in information transfer; and on microbial enzymes. Effects of temperature, salt, and pressure on membrane structure and function are analyzed as well. The book will be of interest to biologists, microbiologists, biochemists, zoologists, and students of life sciences.