Tiny animal survives after 24,000 years frozen in Siberian permafrost

[MovieMadness]

Tiny animal survives after 24,000 years frozen in Siberian permafrost

A lot has changed on Earth in just the last few decades, but for a recently revived microscopic creature, it has tens of thousands of years to catch up on.

In a new study published this week in the journal Current Biology, researchers report the surprising survival story of a bdelloid rotifer, a tiny freshwater creature that is common all over the world. The multicellular animals can only be seen under a microscope, but they are capable of surviving through drying, freezing, starvation and low oxygen.

Now, researchers have learned that these animals are not only resilient, but they can persist for extreme lengths of time — at least 24,000 years — in Siberian permafrost. Earlier evidence suggested they could survive for only a decade.

"Our report is the hardest proof as of today that multicellular animals could withstand tens of thousands of years in cryptobiosis, the state of almost completely arrested metabolism," study author Stas Malavin said in a statement.

The Soil Cryology Lab in Pushchino, Russia used a drilling rig to collect the minuscule organism from nearly a dozen feet below one of the most remote Arctic locations. Researchers then deduced its age using radiocarbon dating.

After the organism thawed, it was capable of reproducing asexually using a process called parthenogenesis. Repeating the freezing and thawing process dozens of times, researchers found that the animal innately performs a process to protect its cells and organs from the formation of ice crystals at extremely low temperatures.

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So for this creature to be that low beneath the surface means it must have been much warmer in our past, but don't tell the global warming alarmists.

[Bogie56]

1 hour ago, MovieMadness said:

So for this creature to be that low beneath the surface means it must have been much warmer in our past, but don't tell the global warming alarmists.

Though this is hardly the reason for something to be buried, you are almost right.  The planet has been on a tens of thousands year cooling cycle until man interrupted it.

[hamradio]

Bdelloid rotifer, a creature whom doesn't complain about global warming.

Seems quite happy. 

Loving it!