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“Zombie worm” frozen for 24,000 years, then began to reproduce
In the icy depths of Siberia, where time seems to stand still, scientists have found something that resembles a scene from science fiction, only it is completely real. A microscopic organism, frozen since the last ice age, not only survived but, after thawing, came back to life and began to reproduce, opening up completely new questions about the limits of life on Earth.
TL;DR
- A multicellular organism, a bdelloid rotifer, was revived after being frozen in Siberian permafrost for about 24,000 years.
- The 'zombie worm' survived in a state of cryptobiosis, a metabolic suspension, without damage.
- Upon thawing, the rotifer resumed normal biological functions and reproduced asexually.
- This is the strongest evidence to date that multicellular organisms can survive tens of thousands of years in cryptobiosis.
- Melting permafrost due to climate change could release ancient microorganisms, posing potential risks.
- The discovery has implications for cryopreservation, understanding extreme survival, and astrobiology.
- Complex organisms like mammals are unlikely to be revived after thousands of years frozen due to their sensitivity to freezing damage.