Research Organism Superheroes: Tardigrades

A 3D rendering of a tardigrade. Credit: iStock. “Water bear” or “moss piglet”? No matter what you call them, tardigrades have secured the title of cutest invertebrate—at least in our book. They’re tiny creatures, averaging about the size of a grain of salt, so while you can spot them with the naked eye, using a microscope is the best way to see them. They earned their nickname of water bear and their official name (which comes from tardigradus, Latin for “slow walker”) because of the way they lumber slowly and deliberately on short, stubby legs. They’re excellent research organisms due to their translucent bodies and similar anatomy and physiology, including a full digestive system, to that of larger animals. They’ve also been nicknamed moss piglets because they’re often found in moss, but different species of tardigrades have been found in habitats across the earth, from mountaintops to ocean floors and from hot springs to frigid Antarctica. Tardigrades seem to have the superpower of surviving extreme conditions. Find this and other printable coloring pages about research organisms’ superpowers on our website. Credit: NIGMS. Tardigrades are known for their ability to survive harsh conditions: extreme cold, boiling heat, intense pressure, lack of oxygen, and even UV radiation in space. But it’s only the species from land, not water, that have evolved this near indestructibility because land environments don’t have the ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Tools and Techniques Cool Creatures Research Organisms Source Type: blogs