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Dr.
Alan Tunnacliffe's Lab Website
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| Research
Overview
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The phenomenon of anhydrobiosis
("life without water") was described over 300 years ago by
Antony van Leeuwenhoek in relation to certain "animalcules" now known
as bdelloid rotifers.
Since
that time, life forms capable of surviving extreme desiccation have
been recognised in all biological kingdoms and include resurrection
plants, invertebrates such as tardigrades, nematodes
and bdelloid rotifers,
and various micro-organisms including bakers' yeast.
Under
certain physiological and environmental conditions, these
"anhydro-organisms" are able to survive loss of essentially all their
water, adopting a metabolic dormancy in the dried state; they resume
their normal metabolic functions on rehydration. When dry, such
organisms are highly resistant to environmental challenge, including
exposure to extremes of temperature and pressure. This degree of
stability has allowed tardigrades, for example, to remain dormant for
decades without apparent damage.
Work in Dr Tunnacliffe's laboratory aims to increase our understanding
of anhydrobiosis
and to examine possible cell-based applications ("anhydrobiotic
engineering").
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| Research Topics
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