There is a belief that nothing can survive in space. Scientists though have discovered new facts about tardigrades. These “water bears” have 1/6 of foreign genomes in them that allow them to survive in space. This is without any kind of protection and many studies suggest that there might be some alien DNA in these creatures.
While space is one impressive place they can survive, there is another. Researchers have found that the animal can be frozen for a year and will become fully functional after just 20 minutes. These creatures even have the ability to heal their DNA should it become damaged. That means there is still plenty for scientists to explore with these creatures.
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Animal That Survives in Space Has Weird DNA
Nov 23, 2015 03:00 PM ET // by Jennifer Viegas
A tardigrade, also known as a water bear is a unique animal in many ways..
It is the only animal known to survive the extreme environment of outer space without the help of special equipment and it turns out to have the most foreign DNA of any species.
Water bears, also known as tardigrades, have genomes that are nearly one-sixth foreign, meaning that the DNA comes from creatures other than the animal itself, new research finds.
The discovery, published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, adds to the evidence that tiny water bears are incredibly unique and seemingly indestructible animals. In 2007, some were even rocketed into space on the outside of a satellite.
For more information, please visit: http://news.discovery.com/animals/only-animal-that-survives-in-space-has-weird-dna-151123.htm
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