Tardigrade or Waterbears are microscopic animals which have 8 legs and is found almost all over the world even in very extreme conditions.
Scientists have reported Tardigrades in hot springs, on top of the Himalayas, under layers of solid ice and in ocean sediments.As a microbiologist I have studied about various extremophiles, which are microorganisms who can live in conditions such as very high or very low temperature, pressure, dehydration etc. And the things which are most tough can be most advantageous to a biologist for various purposes. And that is why chose Tardigrade to blog about.
Tardigrade can live under many extreme conditions!
Temperature: heated for a few minutes to 151 °C (424 K) or being chilled for days at −200 °C
Pressure: can survive extremely low pressure of a vacuum and also very high pressures, more than 1,200 times atmospheric pressure.
Dehydration: can survive in a dry state nearly for almost 10 years
Radiation: can withstand median lethal doses of 5,000 Gy (of gamma-rays) and 6,200 Gy (of heavy ions); 5 to 10 Gy could be fatal to a human.
Outer space: Tardigrades can survive the vacuum of open space and solar radiation combined for at least 10 days.
IF it were pathogenic we would all have been dead!
Looking at the Tardigrade I can say that
'being small doesn't really matter being the toughest matters most!'
 |
| Cool tardigrade tatto |
 |
| Tardigrade: 1 Scientists: 0 |
Some funny pictures which I made after studying about Tardigrade. Special thanks to my sister for giving me ideas.
Add your comments below!
