AKC Seminar: One small step for a tardigrade, one giant leap for biology

August Krogh Seminar

K. Ingemar Jönsson

Associate Professor in Theoretical and Evolutionary Ecology, School of Education and Environment, Kristianstad University, Sweden.

Abstract

In 2007, tardigrades became the first animal ever managing to survive under near "open space" conditions. Exposed to space vacuum, cosmic radiation, and massive ultraviolet radiation, some animals of this enigmatic taxon survived a 10-day journey at low Earth orbit.

Despite attempts to reveal the genetic and biochemical mechanisms that allow tardigrades to survive in a completely dry state, and to revive after massive exposure to radiation, we are still far from understanding how these animals achieve their tolerance to biological border states.

The presentation will give details on the space exposure experiment, and summarise our current knowledge on desiccation and radiation tolerance in tardigrades.

Time

26 October 2012 15:15-16:45

Venue

Auditorium 1, August Krogh Building, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen

Registration

Participation is free, but please register here.

For PhD students

PhD students participating in August Krogh seminars receive 0,2 ECTS per seminar

Contact

Christian Frøsig

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