Cheteroatomisidos

Cheteroatomisidos is a hypothetical lineage of microscopic, extremophile microorganisms described in speculative biology and science fiction contexts. They are noted for possessing heteromeric atoms or cheteroatom granules that influence metabolism and cell structure. The concept emerged amid discussions of non-standard biochemistries and is not part of established biology.

The name combines chetero- (other, different) and atomisidos (atom-like bodies). In speculative taxonomy, they are placed in an independent clade, separate from Bacteria and Archaea, with some authors proposing a range of morphologies from amorphous to filamentous life forms.

Cheteroatomisidos are typically 0.8–2.5 micrometers in diameter, with a rigid, multilayered envelope. The cytoplasm contains polarized inclusions called cheteroatoms—granules that are thought to function as energy cofactors or structural scaffolds. They show simple internal membranes and lack a true nucleus.

They are described as chemolithoautotrophs that oxidize reduced sulfur compounds and utilize metal-redox pairs. Their energy strategies may involve iron-sulfur chemistry and unconventional electron acceptors. They are imagined to inhabit extreme niches such as deep-sea vents, saline brines, and mineral-rich caves in fictional settings.

In fiction, they reproduce by binary fission and exchange genetic material via vesicle-mediated transfer. Their genome is imagined as compact, with genes devoted to cheteroatom synthesis and incorporation. They are thought to have a minimal cytoskeleton and RNA-based regulatory networks.

Cheteroatomisidos remain a fictional construct used to explore alternative biochemistries and the boundaries of life. They are referenced in speculative biology essays and worldbuilding projects, and circulate mainly within imaginative contexts. They are not recognized by official taxonomic authorities.