Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about tardigrades, also known as water bears, by identifying a molecular sensor that triggers their ability to enter a dormant state. This finding sheds light on the remarkable resilience of tardigrades, which are not just extremophiles, but extremo-tolerant. The chemical changes in the amino acid cysteine play a crucial role in this process, as researchers from Marshall University in West Virginia have revealed. Their study, published in PLOS One, unveils the oxidation of cysteine as the key factor that induces tardigrades’ dormancy and reawakening. This insight challenges previous assumptions about the passive nature of tardigrades’ transformation, as noted by Hans Ramløv, a comparative physiologist at Roskilde University in Denmark. The implications of this discovery are not only inspirational but also thought-provoking, as it prompts a reevaluation of our understanding of these fascinating micro-animals.
2024-01-17 14:00:00
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