This creature hasn't mated in 80 million years, and it just gave birth after thawing out
ALSO READ: Veterans Affairs terminates union contracts — what it means for federal workers nationwideIn nature, sexual reproduction is thought to be necessary for a species to adapt and live for a long time. It lets living things mix up their genes so they can stay one step ahead of disease and changes in the environment. But bdelloid rotifers never got the message, as per a report by Discover Wildlife.
These tiny animals, which live in moss, puddles, and even sewage, have been around for 80 million years because they don't need to mate to reproduce. All of the members of this species are female. Instead of mixing their genes with those of a partner, they make genetically identical copies of themselves, which is basically cloning.Most animals that reproduce this way end up at a dead end. Species that don't have a lot of genetic diversity are more likely to get sick from parasites and changes in the environment. But bdelloids have been breaking this rule for thousands of years, and scientists are still trying to figure out how, as per a report by Discover Wildlife.
Bdelloid rotifers are known for being some of the toughest living things on Earth, in addition to their strange way of reproducing. They can live for thousands of years without water, radiation, or freezing.Scientists brought rotifers back to life in 2021 after they had been frozen in Siberian permafrost for more than 24,000 years. They started reproducing again as soon as they thawed. Even tardigrades, which are known for being tough, don't have that kind of strength.
Their DNA repair systems, which may be the best in the microscopic world, seem to be linked to this amazing ability to survive, as per a report by Discover Wildlife. Scientists think that bdelloids have figured out a smart way to get around the genetic stagnation that usually happens in asexual species. They might not be getting new genetic material from mating, but from the organisms they eat.
Bdelloids eat bacteria, algae, and small pieces of organic matter. It looks like they take in DNA from other organisms during this process, which is called horizontal gene transfer. Some estimates say that as many as 10% of their active genes may have come from other species. This "theft" of genes could be a big step forward for bdelloids in terms of evolution, since they can adapt without having to reproduce in the usual way. It's like nature gave them a biological loophole, and they've been using it very well.The bdelloid rotifer is proof that there is more than one way to live and do well on Earth. This tiny creature has broken the rules of evolution by cloning itself, being very tough, and stealing genes from other species. It's a quiet reminder that nature's strangest plans often work best.
Have bdelloid rotifers really survived so long without mating?Yes, they reproduce completely without males using cloning and have done so for tens of millions of years.
How do they stay alive in harsh conditions? Their cells can repair DNA damage and may absorb beneficial genes from the organisms they consume.
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Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
This creature hasn't mated in 80 million years, and it just gave birth after thawing out
Bdelloid rotifers, ancient asexual creatures, defy evolutionary norms by thriving for 80 million years without mating. These resilient organisms clone themselves, endure extreme conditions, and possess remarkable DNA repair mechanisms. They also incorporate genes from other species, potentially circumventing the genetic stagnation typically associated with asexual reproduction, showcasing nature's diverse survival strategies. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How do bdelloids have babies without mating? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What helps them get through almost anything? Is stealing genes their way of cheating evolution? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs There is a tiny survivor who is changing the rules of biology. The bdelloid rotifer is a strange little creature that has been around for 80 million years and has never mated. It's one of the most interesting rebels in evolution: all female, almost indestructible, and incredibly they make copies of themselves, live in tough conditions, and even take DNA from other species. Scientists are interested in how well they do without genetic reshuffling, which is usually thought to be necessary for long-term nature, sexual reproduction is thought to be necessary for a species to adapt and live for a long time. It lets living things mix up their genes so they can stay one step ahead of disease and changes in the environment. But bdelloid rotifers never got the message, as per a report by Discover tiny animals, which live in moss, puddles, and even sewage, have been around for 80 million years because they don't need to mate to reproduce. All of the members of this species are female. Instead of mixing their genes with those of a partner, they make genetically identical copies of themselves, which is basically animals that reproduce this way end up at a dead end. Species that don't have a lot of genetic diversity are more likely to get sick from parasites and changes in the environment. But bdelloids have been breaking this rule for thousands of years, and scientists are still trying to figure out how, as per a report by Discover rotifers are known for being some of the toughest living things on Earth , in addition to their strange way of reproducing. They can live for thousands of years without water, radiation, or brought rotifers back to life in 2021 after they had been frozen in Siberian permafrost for more than 24,000 years. They started reproducing again as soon as they thawed. Even tardigrades, which are known for being tough, don't have that kind of DNA repair systems , which may be the best in the microscopic world, seem to be linked to this amazing ability to survive, as per a report by Discover think that bdelloids have figured out a smart way to get around the genetic stagnation that usually happens in asexual species. They might not be getting new genetic material from mating, but from the organisms they eat bacteria, algae, and small pieces of organic matter. It looks like they take in DNA from other organisms during this process, which is called horizontal gene transfer . Some estimates say that as many as 10% of their active genes may have come from other "theft" of genes could be a big step forward for bdelloids in terms of evolution, since they can adapt without having to reproduce in the usual way. It's like nature gave them a biological loophole, and they've been using it very bdelloid rotifer is proof that there is more than one way to live and do well on Earth. This tiny creature has broken the rules of evolution by cloning itself, being very tough, and stealing genes from other species. It's a quiet reminder that nature's strangest plans often work they reproduce completely without males using cloning and have done so for tens of millions of cells can repair DNA damage and may absorb beneficial genes from the organisms they consume.
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Economic Times
This creature hasn't mated in 80 million years, and it just gave birth after thawing out
There is a tiny survivor who is changing the rules of biology. The bdelloid rotifer is a strange little creature that has been around for 80 million years and has never mated. It's one of the most interesting rebels in evolution: all female, almost indestructible, and incredibly they make copies of themselves, live in tough conditions, and even take DNA from other species. Scientists are interested in how well they do without genetic reshuffling, which is usually thought to be necessary for long-term survival. ALSO READ: Veterans Affairs terminates union contracts — what it means for federal workers nationwideIn nature, sexual reproduction is thought to be necessary for a species to adapt and live for a long time. It lets living things mix up their genes so they can stay one step ahead of disease and changes in the environment. But bdelloid rotifers never got the message, as per a report by Discover Wildlife. These tiny animals, which live in moss, puddles, and even sewage, have been around for 80 million years because they don't need to mate to reproduce. All of the members of this species are female. Instead of mixing their genes with those of a partner, they make genetically identical copies of themselves, which is basically animals that reproduce this way end up at a dead end. Species that don't have a lot of genetic diversity are more likely to get sick from parasites and changes in the environment. But bdelloids have been breaking this rule for thousands of years, and scientists are still trying to figure out how, as per a report by Discover Wildlife. Bdelloid rotifers are known for being some of the toughest living things on Earth, in addition to their strange way of reproducing. They can live for thousands of years without water, radiation, or brought rotifers back to life in 2021 after they had been frozen in Siberian permafrost for more than 24,000 years. They started reproducing again as soon as they thawed. Even tardigrades, which are known for being tough, don't have that kind of strength. Their DNA repair systems, which may be the best in the microscopic world, seem to be linked to this amazing ability to survive, as per a report by Discover Wildlife. Scientists think that bdelloids have figured out a smart way to get around the genetic stagnation that usually happens in asexual species. They might not be getting new genetic material from mating, but from the organisms they eat. Bdelloids eat bacteria, algae, and small pieces of organic matter. It looks like they take in DNA from other organisms during this process, which is called horizontal gene transfer. Some estimates say that as many as 10% of their active genes may have come from other species. This "theft" of genes could be a big step forward for bdelloids in terms of evolution, since they can adapt without having to reproduce in the usual way. It's like nature gave them a biological loophole, and they've been using it very bdelloid rotifer is proof that there is more than one way to live and do well on Earth. This tiny creature has broken the rules of evolution by cloning itself, being very tough, and stealing genes from other species. It's a quiet reminder that nature's strangest plans often work best. Have bdelloid rotifers really survived so long without mating?Yes, they reproduce completely without males using cloning and have done so for tens of millions of years. How do they stay alive in harsh conditions? Their cells can repair DNA damage and may absorb beneficial genes from the organisms they consume.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Time of India
Frozen in time: Tattooed remains of 2,500-year-old Siberian ‘ice mummy' revealed; how were they made millennia ago?
In many cultures, tattoos have long symbolised rebellion or a break from tradition. But for others, they are deeply personal, woven into identity, heritage, and belief. Such was the case for the ancient Pazyryk people. An intricate body art of a 2,500-year-old Siberian 'ice mummy' from this nomadic tribe has been uncovered using advanced infrared imaging, offering an extraordinary glimpse into their sophisticated tattooing culture and way of life. Discovered in 1993 on the Okok Plateau in Russia's Altai Mountains, the mummy is believed to have belonged to a nomadic Pazyryk tribe that roamed the Eurasian plains between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC. Nicknamed as the 'Ice Maiden', the remarkably preserved 50-year-old woman is one of three bodies found frozen in permafrost, her skin still marked with striking inked designs across much of her body. Thanks to high-resolution infrared imaging, researchers have now uncovered a detailed array of animal motifs etched into her skin, including a leopard, stag, rooster and a griffin-like creature. Her arms are adorned with the leopard and stag, a half-lion half-eagle beast rests on her leg, while a rooster is inked onto her thumb, New York Post reported. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Gino Caspari, lead researcher from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, told the BBC, 'The insights really drive home to me the point of how sophisticated these people were.' 'This made me feel like we were much closer to seeing the people behind the art, how they worked and learned. The images came alive,' he added. Caspari estimated the time and effort involved in tattooing the Ice Maiden, remarking, 'If I was guessing, it was probably four and a half hours for the lower half of the right arm, and another five hours for the upper part.' 'That's a solid commitment from the person,' the researcher added. Emphasising the skill involved, Caspari said, 'It would need to be performed by a person who knows health and safety, who knows the risks of what happens when the skin is punctured.' The tattoos were created using a process similar to modern techniques, starting with a stencil applied to the skin before the ink was inserted with a needle-like instrument. 'And back in the day it was already a really professional practice where people put a lot of time and effort and practice into creating these images and they're extremely sophisticated.' The study suggests that the tattoos held significance during life rather than in the afterlife, shedding light on the cultural practices and artistry of the Pazyryk tribe. 'It suggests that tattoos were really something for the living with meaning during life, but that they didn't really play much of a role in the afterlife,' Caspari concluded.
