2023-11-05 03:23:08
SOURCE: The Independent
Have you ever wondered what secrets the icy ice sheets of Siberia hide? In surprising news, a team of scientists has awakened a worm that was frozen for more than 45 thousand years in these frost land. ANDthis amazing find has revealed the incredible ability of certain creatures to withstand the harshest environments. extremes. Let’s immerse ourselves in this story and discover the mysteries of the evolution that hide in the permafrost Siberian.
The mysteries of the Siberian worm
In Siberia, a vast region known for its permafrostwhich are areas frozen for years, a previously unknown nematode called Panagrolaimus Kolymaensis. This little worm managed to survive through a process called cryptobiosis. Cryptobiosis is a strategy in which the metabolism slows down so much that it appears to stop completely.
Although it is not a new concept to science, it is rare to find organisms that can survive for millennia in this state. This raises exciting questions regarding how creatures can adapt and resist in environments hostile conditions such as lack of water, extremely cold temperatures, and more.
The adaptation of cryptobiosis
Cryptobiosis is a fascinating strategy of survival that allows certain creatures to survive in extreme conditions. When an organism enters this state, its metabolism slows down so much that it almost stops completely. This adaptation is an amazing mechanism to resist lack of water, extreme salinity, lack of oxygen, and freezing temperatures. The Siberian worm Panagrolaimus Kolymaensishas shown that this technique can be key to the survival in inhospitable environmentsAs the permafrost.
This discovery opens new doors to scientific research. Cryptobiosis remains a developing area of study, and we do not yet fully understand how this process works. Each new discovery in this field shows us how complex and surprising life on Earth is. By studying creatures like the Siberian worm, we can gain valuable information regarding the mechanisms of survival of living beings and how they evolve to adapt to their changing environments.
However, there is a major concern related to the permafrost. He climate change is affecting these regions, and as the climate balance is altered, the areas of permafrost They heat up faster. This poses a significant problem, since these ice sheets host a large amount of carbon, which comes from organisms that cannot enter cryptobiosis and that have decomposed over time.
FUENTE: PLOS GENETICS
It is estimated that there are approximately 1,500 gigatonnes of carbon stored in the permafrost, almost double the amount in the atmosphere. As these ice sheets melt, carbon is released, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
Additionally, many people live in areas near the permafrost, and rapid melting of these areas is a risk. It is estimated that 80% of the buildings in places like Yakutsk and city Norilskin Russia, are built on permafrost. This poses serious security problems for the communities that depend on these lands. He permafrost Not only is it a treasure of mysterious living beings that can help us better understand the evolution and life, but also a critical resource for society and humanity in general.
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