Nematodes frozen for 42 thousand. years have returned to life

Nematodes frozen in the Pleistocene have returned to life. Russian researchers thawed soil samples from permafrost in which nematodes were found. Several of the creatures began to show signs of life after a short time. These are the oldest living creatures in the world today.

In próbkach sedimentóin taken from the permafrost in the pónortheastern Siberia, Russian researchers have found hundreds of nematodes thatóre frozen for the past several tens of thousands of years. Within weeks of thawing, the two individuals began to move and eat.

It appears that more than 40 thousand. years spent in frozen soil did nothing to them. Their behavior does not differ from nematodes cultured on petri dishes in the lab. Siberian nematodes set record for time spent in hibernation.

Russian biologists dug up more than 300 próbek of frozen soil with róof the carbon dating at various sites across the Arctic and took them back to their lab in Moscow for a closer look. Próbki taken from remote parts of pónortheastern Russia contained nematodes dwóch rósorts ofów. The researchers placed them in petri dishes along with the medium.

After several weeks of being in temperatures of around 20 deg. Celsius, nematodes have begun to show signs of life. The results of the study of prehistoric nematodes were published in the „Biological Sciences docs”.

„We have obtained the first data confirming the ability of the organismóin the multicomórkowe for long-term cryopreservation in Arctic permafrost deposits” – Russian scientists from four Moscow institutions reported in a statement, whichóers in nematode research wspóThey worked with scientists from Princetown University.

Someóre of nematodes belonging to the genus Panagrolaimus – were found at a depth of about 30 metersóin Underground. The researchers believe that the site was once the burrow of a squirrelóThe earthworms, whichóra sank and froze about 32,000 years ago. Others of a kind Plectus found in próbce borehole from a depth of about 3.5 meters. Carbon dating indicated that próbka is about 42,000 years old.

The researchers vow that they followed strict sterility procedures, nevertheless contamination of the pr cannot be ruled outóbek.

Permafrost can seasonally obtain temperatures above zero to a depth of about 80 centimetersów. That’s why researchers are confident that these worms really did wake up from an incredibly long nap.

That was a long sleep. Worms frozen in permafrost for up to 42,000 years come back to life. Nematodes moving and eating again for the first time since the Pleistocene age in major scientific breakthrough, say experts https://t.co/tHgp0nizZR pic.twitter.com/lhD8Vhw948

— The Siberian Times (@siberian_times) July 26, 2018

Revival of ancient organismsów is nothing new. In 2000, U.S. scientists pulled out spores of Bacillus bacteria hidden in salt crystals from 250 million years agoóin years. The bacteria have managed to bringóbrought back to life.

Finding animals thatóre can remain dormant for tens of thousands of years, is a finding on whichóre worth zwróCARE. The capabilities of bacteria and nematodes are impressive, but so far scientists have not managed to apply similar tricks to the human body.

Cryopreservation nematode research may yield new information on mechanismóin biochemicals thatóThe use of which will ensure reduced tissue damage. This could contribute to the development of better organ storage technologiesóin for transplantationów. Perhaps even to develop effective ways toóin human hibernation.

„Our discovery shows that nematodes from the Pleistocene have some adaptive mechanisms, które may have scientific and practical implications for related fields of science, such as cryomedicine, cryobiology and astrobiology” – wrote the researchers in the report.

The discovery also has a darker side. There are fears that melting permafrost could release pathogens frozen for thousands of years, with któr which humans can’t handle. The nematodes probably pose little threat, but their survival is proof that róThe diverse organisms could potentially wróto come back to life after a long absence.

What this could mean for wspómodern ecosystemów? What we can only guess at.

SourceóSource: Siberian Times, Science Alert, photo. CC BY 3.0/ CSIRO/ Wikimedia Commons