During this preconditioning, the nematodes begin pumping out a sugar called trehalose, which may be involved in helping protect their DNA, cells and proteins from degrading.
Candied nematode!
By sequencing the genome of this Rip Van Winkle roundworm, scientists revealed it to be a new species of nematode
If this nematode could read I bet it would be offended at being called “new.”
… insert sci-fi horror plot here…
X-Files beat you to it: Season 1, Episode 8
Imagine being that roundworm, waking up after being asleep for 46,000 years and wondering why everything has changed so much!
Also makes me wonder just how long they could sit there in permafrost and still be able to wake up. Is there an upper limit?
I think you’re projecting a lot of your human cognitive ability on this particular worm
Yes, I’m aware of that. I know that worms are very, very simple creatures that don’t really have much of any cognitive ability at all. I think the key word in my post is “imagine”.
At the same time I was more enthused with the tought if the world would have changed as much from the worms’ perspective. I don’t think the siberian flora and fauna have changed very drastically. Probably the mammoths were still around back then, and that would be the most important change. The climate might be different.
“Ah, after fourty-six thousand years I’m free! It’s time to conquer Earth!”
I think I’ve seen this movie.
