How did Taq DNA polymerase acquire its name?

Taq DNA polymerase is an enzyme which can withstand the high temperature as it is resistance to heat therefore is heat stable. This enzyme plays an important role in Polymerase chain reaction as a procedure requires high temperature.

The enzyme was originally isolated from a thermophilic bacterium named Thermus aquaticus near the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. The Taq word was adapted from the name of the bacteria as Thermus aquaticus = Taq and polymerase as it poylmerizes the DNA.