Pausing the biological clock<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThis is just the tip of the iceberg \u2014 scientists have plenty more to discover about these microscopic organisms. At the Hrvatin lab, graduate student Aleksandar Markovski is working with six different species of tardigrades, with a particular focus on an aquatic species isolated from the bottom of a lake.<\/p>\n
Markovski’s work entails conducting a range of experiments aimed at unraveling tardigrades’ mysterious biology. This includes RNA-sequencing to understand how tardigrades recover after a freeze-thaw cycle; knocking-down and knocking-in genes to investigate the function and relevance of different genes and pathways; performing electron microscopy for high-resolution visualization of cellular structures and morphological changes that may be taking place in the frozen state.<\/p>\n
The ultimate goal of this work, Markovski says, is to extend the shelf life of humans. \u201cWhenever someone donates an organ, it can be stored for hours on ice. Then, unless someone in close proximity is in need of that organ and is compatible, the organ has to be thrown away,\u201d he adds. \u201cBut if you were able to freeze those organs and transplant them whenever needed, that would be revolutionary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\n\nAchilles heel<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nTardigrades are best known for surviving in the margins of typical life, but they also share a surprising vulnerability with humans and most other organisms: climate change. Entering the tun state to withstand high temperatures requires desiccation. If the water temperature goes up before the tardigrades have had the opportunity to dry out, they\u2019re stuck in a vulnerable state, where they can ultimately succumb to heat.<\/p>\n
But all is not lost. Tardigrades, the first microscopic interstellar travelers capable of surviving vacuum and radiation in outer space, are also paving the path for human space exploration with a protein called\u00a0Damage suppressor<\/a>\u00a0or Dsup, which binds to DNA and shields it from reactive forms of oxygen.<\/p>\nResearchers are drawing hope and inspiration from their unparalleled persistence, envisioning that these organisms cannot only ensure their survival but also aid humanity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tardigrades, also affectionately known as \u201cwater bears\u201d or \u201cmoss piglets\u201d, are remarkable microscopic organisms that have captured the imagination of scientists and nature enthusiasts alike. With adults measuring anywhere from 0.2 to 1.2 millimeters in length \u2014 as big as a grain of salt \u2014 tardigrades possess the astounding ability to survive harsh environmental conditions. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1783,"featured_media":29565,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6212,6221,6240],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-briefs","category-whitehead-institute","category-whitehead-institute-faculty-locations","placement-placement-homepage","research-area-cell-biology","research-area-genetics","research-area-neurobiology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Unusual Labmates: Meet tardigrades, the crafters of nature's ultimate survival kit - MIT Department of Biology<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n
This is just the tip of the iceberg \u2014 scientists have plenty more to discover about these microscopic organisms. At the Hrvatin lab, graduate student Aleksandar Markovski is working with six different species of tardigrades, with a particular focus on an aquatic species isolated from the bottom of a lake.<\/p>\n
Markovski’s work entails conducting a range of experiments aimed at unraveling tardigrades’ mysterious biology. This includes RNA-sequencing to understand how tardigrades recover after a freeze-thaw cycle; knocking-down and knocking-in genes to investigate the function and relevance of different genes and pathways; performing electron microscopy for high-resolution visualization of cellular structures and morphological changes that may be taking place in the frozen state.<\/p>\n
The ultimate goal of this work, Markovski says, is to extend the shelf life of humans. \u201cWhenever someone donates an organ, it can be stored for hours on ice. Then, unless someone in close proximity is in need of that organ and is compatible, the organ has to be thrown away,\u201d he adds. \u201cBut if you were able to freeze those organs and transplant them whenever needed, that would be revolutionary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Achilles heel<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nTardigrades are best known for surviving in the margins of typical life, but they also share a surprising vulnerability with humans and most other organisms: climate change. Entering the tun state to withstand high temperatures requires desiccation. If the water temperature goes up before the tardigrades have had the opportunity to dry out, they\u2019re stuck in a vulnerable state, where they can ultimately succumb to heat.<\/p>\n
But all is not lost. Tardigrades, the first microscopic interstellar travelers capable of surviving vacuum and radiation in outer space, are also paving the path for human space exploration with a protein called\u00a0Damage suppressor<\/a>\u00a0or Dsup, which binds to DNA and shields it from reactive forms of oxygen.<\/p>\nResearchers are drawing hope and inspiration from their unparalleled persistence, envisioning that these organisms cannot only ensure their survival but also aid humanity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tardigrades, also affectionately known as \u201cwater bears\u201d or \u201cmoss piglets\u201d, are remarkable microscopic organisms that have captured the imagination of scientists and nature enthusiasts alike. With adults measuring anywhere from 0.2 to 1.2 millimeters in length \u2014 as big as a grain of salt \u2014 tardigrades possess the astounding ability to survive harsh environmental conditions. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1783,"featured_media":29565,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6212,6221,6240],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-briefs","category-whitehead-institute","category-whitehead-institute-faculty-locations","placement-placement-homepage","research-area-cell-biology","research-area-genetics","research-area-neurobiology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Unusual Labmates: Meet tardigrades, the crafters of nature's ultimate survival kit - MIT Department of Biology<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n
Tardigrades are best known for surviving in the margins of typical life, but they also share a surprising vulnerability with humans and most other organisms: climate change. Entering the tun state to withstand high temperatures requires desiccation. If the water temperature goes up before the tardigrades have had the opportunity to dry out, they\u2019re stuck in a vulnerable state, where they can ultimately succumb to heat.<\/p>\n
But all is not lost. Tardigrades, the first microscopic interstellar travelers capable of surviving vacuum and radiation in outer space, are also paving the path for human space exploration with a protein called\u00a0Damage suppressor<\/a>\u00a0or Dsup, which binds to DNA and shields it from reactive forms of oxygen.<\/p>\n Researchers are drawing hope and inspiration from their unparalleled persistence, envisioning that these organisms cannot only ensure their survival but also aid humanity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tardigrades, also affectionately known as \u201cwater bears\u201d or \u201cmoss piglets\u201d, are remarkable microscopic organisms that have captured the imagination of scientists and nature enthusiasts alike. With adults measuring anywhere from 0.2 to 1.2 millimeters in length \u2014 as big as a grain of salt \u2014 tardigrades possess the astounding ability to survive harsh environmental conditions. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1783,"featured_media":29565,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6212,6221,6240],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-briefs","category-whitehead-institute","category-whitehead-institute-faculty-locations","placement-placement-homepage","research-area-cell-biology","research-area-genetics","research-area-neurobiology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n