ScienceBiology
A tardigrade's trick: dry out and turn to glass.
A tardigrade survives drying out by pulling in its limbs and shrivelling into a ball called a tun, shedding almost all of its body water while its metabolism falls to a near-standstill. Tardigrade-specific proteins appear to set the inside of its cells into a protective glass until water returns.
Step by step
- As it dries out, a tardigrade pulls in its legs and shrivels into a ball called a tun.
- It sheds almost all its body water; metabolism falls to a near-standstill.
- Special proteins appear to set its cell interiors into a protective glass until water returns.
Source
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