Nematodes Wake up After Nearly 46,000 Years | Siberian Permafrost Mystery | PLOS Genetics Report

Scientists Awaken Worms | Siberian Permafrost Worms Awaken After 46,000 Years | Scientists Revive 46,000-Year-Old Nematods | "Panagrolaimus kolymaensis"

Scientists recently discovered frozen worms (“Panagrolaimus kolymaensis”) in the Siberian permafrost. After staying dormant for nearly 46,000 years, the worms began wriggling again! Scientists determined the age using a technique called “radiocarbon dating.” The unstable carbon-14 isotope undergoes radioactive decay and has a half-life of nearly 5,730 years. Scientists first determine the amount of carbon-14 in the sample under investigation. They then compare this amount with the amount present in a standard (reference) sample. This gives them the precise age of the historic sample under investigation. Scientists claim that this is presumably the most stunning example of crytobiosis; at least thus far. Cryptobiosis allows biological organisms to remain in a dormant condition for month or years, in response to adverse environmental conditions including extreme temperatures, unusual dryness, lack of oxygen, or high levels of radiation. During cryptobiosis, the metabolism of the organism slows down significantly. However, other scientists seem a bit skeptical
For instance, some claim that the determined age (46,000 years) does not represent the age of the worms. “It’s in fact the age of the organic material found near the nematodes and not the age of the nematodes themselves," claim some others.

Although controversial, this study provides motivation for deeper and more robust investigations in the near future …

By the way, did you know that the normal lifespan of this 46,000-year-old nematode is only a few weeks?

Published as a research report in PLOS Genetics

#permafrost #Siberia #hibernate #cryptobiosis #nematodes

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