Tiny tardigrades can survive space and deadly radiation. Scientists may finally know how.

tardigradesThe ubiquitous microscopic animals, which resemble eight-legged gummy bears, are renowned for their ability to survive for decades in some of the harshest environmental conditions without food or water.

These hardy animals can easily withstand levels of radiation that would be fatal to most other life forms, extreme temperatures, and even survive in the vacuum of the environment. space. Some scientists believe that discovering the genes responsible for their remarkable resilience, particularly to ultra-high radiation, could pave the way for a range of potential applications from cancer research to space exploration.

And we may be closer than ever to unlocking them. Chinese scientists have identified a new species of tardigrade harboring thousands of genes that become more active when exposed to radiation. The findings highlight a complex defense system that protects tardigrade DNA from radiation-induced damage and may pave the way for better protecting astronauts against the stress of long-duration missions, the researchers say.

The new species, named Hypsibius henanensis After ChinaHenan province, where they were collected about six years ago, was hit by radiation doses many times those that would be fatal to humans. The bombardment affected 2,801 tardigrade genes associated with DNA repair, cell division, hormone metabolism and immune responses, one study found. paper published October 25 in the journal Science.

One of the genes that has become the most active, called DODA1appears to resist radiation damage by allowing tardigrades to produce antioxidant pigments called betalains, which can clear out some of the harmful reactive chemicals inside cells caused by radiation. When researchers treated human cells with tardigrade betalains, they found that the cells survived radiation much better than untreated cells, said study co-author Lingqiang Zhang, a molecular and cellular biologist at the Beijing Institute of Lifeomics. Nature News.

Tardigrades, commonly known as water bears or moss piglets, have been the subject of extensive research due to their extraordinary resilience. In 2007, they became the first animals to survive exposure to space after an uncrewed Russian capsule carried 3,000 live tardigrades on a European mission to low Earth orbit and exposed them to the vacuum of space for 10 days. 68 percent of them survived and gave birth to normal offspring. The same thing happened with the tardigrades that were launched into space in 2011 during the last flight of NASAof the space shuttle Endeavor.

Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

The tardigrades took place in a Biopan facility during ESA’s Foton-M3 mission in 2007. The lid opened for 10 days in Earth orbit. (Image credit: ESA – S.Corvaja)

A few thousand tardigrades spread across the Moon’s surface after traveling aboard the Israeli spacecraft Beresheet, which crashed during landing. While the fact that the specimens sleep on lunar soil raises ethical questions, microbiologists have assessed their chances of colonization. the moon zero, taking into account the lack of oxygen and liquid water.

The tardigrades last trip into space was in 2021 at International Space Stationwhere a long-term study of their genes and other survival techniques is underway.

“We want to see what ‘tricks’ they use to survive when they get into space and, more timewhat tricks their offspring use,” said Thomas Boothby, associate professor of molecular biology at the University of Wyoming, in a previous NASA statement. “Are they the same or do they change from generation to generation? We just don’t know what to expect.”

Scientists know from previous research that tardigrades persist in adverse conditions by rapidly suspending their metabolism, causing them to lose the majority of their body water and shrink to half their normal size, a condition known as name cryptobiosis. After their return from space, they have regained their former vigor in just 30 minutes after hydrating.

According to scientists, these tiny creatures are also likely capable of producing quantities of antioxidants – such as the new reservoir of betalains – to combat harmful changes induced by radiation.

“We saw them do this in response to radiation on Earth“, Boothby said. “We think that the way tardigrades evolved to withstand the extreme environments on this planet may also be what protects them against the stress of spaceflight.”

Originally published on Espace.com.

Apre-salomemanzo

Apre-salomemanzo

Tiny tardigrades can survive space and deadly radiation. Scientists may finally know how.

Umito

Trump’s election interference case shut down; Parliamentary majority remains unclear

Rady Children’s Ice Rink Opens at Liberty Station

See all homes sold in Frankenmuth, November 4-10

I was wrong to say we didn’t need tax rises, admits Labor chancellor Rachel Reeves

Tiny tardigrades can survive space and deadly radiation. Scientists may finally know how.

Umito

You Might Also Like

Trump’s election interference case shut down; Parliamentary majority remains unclear

Rady Children’s Ice Rink Opens at Liberty Station

See all homes sold in Frankenmuth, November 4-10

I was wrong to say we didn’t need tax rises, admits Labor chancellor Rachel Reeves