Scientists have revived a nematode that has lived for 46,000 years years old was frozen in permafrost in Siberia. The worm survived at a depth of 40 meters. He was in a state of cryptobiosis – said prof. Teymuras Kurzchalia from the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics. Max Planck in Dresden, Germany.
photo illustrative /Shutterstock
Organisms in a state of cryptobiosis can withstand a complete lack of water or oxygen, high temperature, as well as frost or extremely salty conditions. This state can be described as between death and life. All metabolic processes are then completely slowed down – explains Prof. Kurzchalia. He adds that such organisms have been found before – but they managed to survive in this way for decades, and thousands of years.
The discovery took place five years ago. It was made by scientists of the Russian Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science. One of the scientists, Anastazja Szatilowicz, revived two nematodes by hydrating them. For further analysis, she transported about a hundred roundworms to a laboratory in Germany.
After thawing, the nematodes began to multiply.
A female microscopic roundworm that spent the last 46,000 years in suspended animation deep in the Siberian permafrost has been revived and has started having babies in a laboratory dish.
washingtonpostJuly 28, 2023
After thawing the worms, the researchers used radiocarbon analysis of the plant material. They determined that the nematodes had not been thawed for nearly 46,000 years. up to 48,000 years.
By sequencing the genome of this roundworm, scientists have discovered that it is a new species of nematode. It was named Panagrolaimus kolymaenis and described in a study published Thursday in the journal PLOS Genetics. Nematodes are today among the most ubiquitous organisms on Earth, inhabiting soil, water and the bottom of the oceans.
The researchers also found that P. kolymaenis shared with C. elegans – another organism often used in scientific research – a “molecular toolkit” that could have allowed it to survive cryptobiosis. Both organisms produce a sugar called trehalose, possibly enabling them to survive freezing and dehydration.
2023-07-29 07:54:14
#Nematode #revived #years #years #lying #permafrost #Siberia
