Prehistoric Worm Revived

Scientists revived a female microscopic roundworm in suspended animation for 46,000 years in Siberian permafrost. The study, published in the journal PLOS Genetics, highlights the potential of certain organisms' ability to survive extreme environments through cryptobiosis, a state where their metabolism slows to undetectable levels. Understanding how these creatures adapt to harsh conditions may offer insights into how animals can cope with shifting habitats due to climate change. The researchers found that the nematodes produce a sugar called trehalose during preconditioning, which could play a role in protecting their DNA, cells, and proteins from degradation when exposed to freezing and drying out. The nematode's ability to survive for tens of thousands of years raises intriguing questions about the limits of organism survival and the concept of extinction. The species, which usually lives for just one to two months, was able to extend its existence through its unique survival mechanism.