Resurrecting a 46,000-year-old Frozen Worm
Researchers have successfully reanimated a soil nematode that had been dormant in Siberian permafrost for approximately 46,000 years. The nematode, identified as a new species called Panagrolaimus kolymaensis, shares genes related to survival with the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Exposure to mild desiccation before freezing improved the nematodes' survival capabilities, suggesting the potential for long-term dormant survival in extreme conditions. This study extends the known cryptobiosis period in nematodes by tens of thousands of years and highlights the role of environmental fluctuations in determining the duration of cryptobiotic states.