Scientists have achieved a remarkable feat by reviving a worm that was frozen for an astonishing 46,000 years. This remarkable discovery brings to life an ancient organism from a time when woolly mammoths, sabre-toothed tigers, and giant elks roamed the Earth.
The roundworm, which belongs to a previously unknown species named Panagrolaimus kolymaenis, was found 40 meters (131.2 feet) beneath the surface in the Siberian permafrost. It was in a state of cryptobiosis, a dormant condition in which organisms can endure the complete absence of water or oxygen, extreme temperatures, freezing, and even extremely salty conditions. In this state, their metabolic rates decrease to undetectable levels, creating a state between life and death.
Teymuras Kurzchalia, professor emeritus at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden and one of the scientists involved in the research, described this finding as a major breakthrough. Previous organisms revived from cryptobiosis have only survived for decades, but this roundworm’s revival after millennia is unprecedented.
Five years ago, scientists from the Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science in Russia discovered two roundworm species in the Siberian permafrost. Anastasia Shatilovich, one of the researchers, successfully revived two of the worms by rehydrating them with water. Around 100 worms were then transported to labs in Germany, with Shatilovich carrying them in her pocket.
Thawing the worms, the scientists conducted radiocarbon analysis on the plant material in the sample, revealing that the deposits had not been thawed for over 45,000 years. Genetic analysis conducted in Dresden and Cologne further revealed that the worms belonged to a new species, which was named Panagrolaimus kolymaenis.
During the study, researchers discovered that P. kolymaenis and another organism frequently used in scientific studies, Caenorhabditis elegans, shared a molecular toolkit enabling them to survive cryptobiosis. Both organisms produce a sugar called trehalose, which may help them endure freezing and dehydration. The finding was striking, as it showed that certain biochemical pathways can remain conserved across species separated by millions of years of evolution.
This extraordinary discovery opens up possibilities for practical applications. By studying these resilient organisms, researchers can potentially gain insights into conservation biology and develop strategies to protect other species in extreme conditions. Understanding how these creatures can withstand such extreme conditions may help inform efforts to preserve vulnerable species in our current world. This research may lead to advancements in conservation and protection efforts for various organisms facing challenging environmental conditions.