Immortal Water Bears?

by Science News

So what is a water bear and how is it immortal?

Water bears, also known as Tardigrades, are eight-legged micro animals that can survive extreme conditions. Their size is typically 0.05mm-1.2mm. Water bears can survive in space, radioactive environments, near volcanoes, and even at the bottom of the ocean. Animals that can survive in such harsh conditions are known as extremophiles. But how is it possible for an animal so small to take on so much from nature? Some researchers speculate it is because of a special protein they produce called Dsup, short for damage suppressor. How it works is it binds to DNA and shields it from forms of oxygen that are reactive. When this happens, it prevents DNA damage from x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. There are other animals that can also survive such extreme conditions, but water bears have been known to be the toughest of them all.