Tardigrades are fascinating organisms that the greater understanding of has potential to lead to advances in medicine, such as by allowing for increased tolerance of radiation in human cells (Hashimoto et al. 2016), and the cryopreservation of organs for transplantation (Kletetschka and Hruba 2015). Perhaps, it may even allow living people to be preserved so that they may undergo long-distance space travel without aging, and thereby may enable colonization of other planets. Anything that may facilitate greater understanding of these organisms and their physiology can provide valuable information for these areas of study.
Tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets, are small animals, about 0.5 mm in length of the phylum Tardigradia. …show more content…
In the tun state, metabolism is essentially absent, so it is believed that energy condition is most important in the introduction and recovery stages of anhydrobiosis (Wright 2001). This is supported by experiments by Halberg, Jørgensen, and Møbjerg (2013), who found that exposing tardigrades to DNP in order to lessen the amount of energy their bodies can produce from food consumed, followed by induction into the anhydrobiotic state, results in failure of tun formation. Exposure to DNP without subsequent induction to anhydrobiosis results in only a small decrease in survival, so mitochondrial energy production seems to be required for entering the tun state. This is also consistent with the results of a prior experiment by Jönsson and Rebecchi (2002), which found a decrease in the size of storage cells in tardigrades following anhydrobiosis. The body cavities of tardigrades contain storage cells, which store energy in the forms of glycogen, lipids, and peptides. Upon a week of starvation, these cells can be observed to shrink (Reuner et al. 2008). Lipid reserves are believed to be linked to anhydrobiotic success in tardigrades by several mechanisms. …show more content…
I would like to compare if there is a difference in success as it relates to tun formation in both anhydrobiosis, and cryobiosis, which would reflect a potential difference in the role of energy availability under different conditions. As cryobiosis does not entail the complete elimination of water, I am interested if there is an increased need for energy in order to synthesize cryoprotectants. For my experiment, I would like to induce anhydrobiosis, and cryobiosis in tardigrades of the genus Hypsibius. I will further identify the species upon purchase of the organisms. Each experiment will include a group of DNP-treated, 1-week starved, and control tardigrades, the two former treatments being simply different ways to lessen the amount of available energy to the tardigrades. The DNP would be a more intensive method for depleting energy. In order to culture the tardigrades I will follow the procedure detailed by McNuff. To do this, 150 mL Chalkey’s Medium (which I will mix myself from chemicals available in the chemistry department) and soil extract, will be placed in an Erlenmeyer flask prior to inoculation with the specimens. The flask will be covered with parafilm. I will place them in a shaded area of around 10-20°C. For a food source I will use Chlorococcum hypnosum,
Tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets, are small animals, about 0.5 mm in length of the phylum Tardigradia. …show more content…
In the tun state, metabolism is essentially absent, so it is believed that energy condition is most important in the introduction and recovery stages of anhydrobiosis (Wright 2001). This is supported by experiments by Halberg, Jørgensen, and Møbjerg (2013), who found that exposing tardigrades to DNP in order to lessen the amount of energy their bodies can produce from food consumed, followed by induction into the anhydrobiotic state, results in failure of tun formation. Exposure to DNP without subsequent induction to anhydrobiosis results in only a small decrease in survival, so mitochondrial energy production seems to be required for entering the tun state. This is also consistent with the results of a prior experiment by Jönsson and Rebecchi (2002), which found a decrease in the size of storage cells in tardigrades following anhydrobiosis. The body cavities of tardigrades contain storage cells, which store energy in the forms of glycogen, lipids, and peptides. Upon a week of starvation, these cells can be observed to shrink (Reuner et al. 2008). Lipid reserves are believed to be linked to anhydrobiotic success in tardigrades by several mechanisms. …show more content…
I would like to compare if there is a difference in success as it relates to tun formation in both anhydrobiosis, and cryobiosis, which would reflect a potential difference in the role of energy availability under different conditions. As cryobiosis does not entail the complete elimination of water, I am interested if there is an increased need for energy in order to synthesize cryoprotectants. For my experiment, I would like to induce anhydrobiosis, and cryobiosis in tardigrades of the genus Hypsibius. I will further identify the species upon purchase of the organisms. Each experiment will include a group of DNP-treated, 1-week starved, and control tardigrades, the two former treatments being simply different ways to lessen the amount of available energy to the tardigrades. The DNP would be a more intensive method for depleting energy. In order to culture the tardigrades I will follow the procedure detailed by McNuff. To do this, 150 mL Chalkey’s Medium (which I will mix myself from chemicals available in the chemistry department) and soil extract, will be placed in an Erlenmeyer flask prior to inoculation with the specimens. The flask will be covered with parafilm. I will place them in a shaded area of around 10-20°C. For a food source I will use Chlorococcum hypnosum,