Mercedes in Tardigrade
LightNews LightNews
banner
jelijam.bsky.social
Mercedes in Tardigrade
@jelijam.bsky.social
300 followers 1.2K following 150 posts
Viva Baja AZ 🌵
Posts Replies Media Videos
jelijam.bsky.social
Here's a more detailed explanation: Cryptobiosis: Tardigrades enter a state of cryptobiosis, a form of suspended animation, in response to stressful conditions like desiccation, extreme temperatures, radiation, and vacuum. Tun State: In the tun state, tardigrades curl into a ball, retract their limbs, and lose up to 97% of their water content. Their metabolism slows down dramatically, potentially to as little as 0.01% of normal. Dehydration: To survive desiccation, tardigrades synthesize special molecules that form a protective matrix, preventing sensitive cellular components like DNA and proteins from damage. Revival: Once conditions improve and water is available, tardigrades rapidly rehydrate and resume their normal metabolism, effectively reviving from the tun state. Extreme Tolerance: In the tun state, tardigrades can tolerate a wide range of extreme conditions, including temperatures from extremely low to high, radiation, and even the vacuum of space. Survival: They can remain in the tun state for years or even decades, waiting for more favorable conditions.
May 13, 2025 at 2:10 AM