How can 'indestructible' tardigrades[water bears] be eaten?

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In summary, tardigrades, also known as "water bears", have the remarkable ability to resist extreme pressures and radiation levels, and even survive in space. However, they are still susceptible to being eaten by other animals such as nematodes and amoeba. Despite their resilience, it is unclear how tardigrades can be killed, as even the digestive juices of other animals and physical weapons have no effect on them. It is possible that these abilities are only activated when tardigrades are in a state of suspended animation. However, the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still not fully understood. Further research is needed to fully understand the incredible capabilities of these tiny creatures.
  • #1
ARAVIND113122
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tardigrades[water bears] can resist pressures upto 6000 atm,can resist unbelievably high radiation levels,have even survived in space.how is it then,that it is eaten by nematodes,amoeba and other tardigrades?? to be precise,how can they be killed??-the digestive juices of other animals should have no effect on them,teeth,claws on any other physical weapon cannot harm them[an animal that can resist 6000 atm should be able to resist any physical damage].
are all these abilities activated only when tardigrades are in 'suspended animation'.if yes,why don't they go into suspended animation when they face a predator,or are in the predators body?
 
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  • #2
ARAVIND113122 said:
tardigrades[water bears] can resist pressures upto 6000 atm,can resist unbelievably high radiation levels,have even survived in space.how is it then,that it is eaten by nematodes,amoeba and other tardigrades?? to be precise,how can they be killed??-the digestive juices of other animals should have no effect on them

Why? Enzymes can be wonderful little things. Do you have a reference for this?


I'd like to take a look at this article but unfortunately I don't have access. may be someone who does might comment.
http://journals.cambridge.org/actio...AB23E30BF8.journals?fromPage=online&aid=83425
 
  • #3
The author says that shelf life might be closer to 10 yrs than 100 yrs. The article is a review, not original research. So if you can see its references, you might find original research there about decade-length lifetimes. A lot of them are Italian though:

Bertolani, R. (1982). Tardigradi (Tardigrada). Guide per il riconoscimento
delle specie animali delle acque interne italiane.
Quaderni CNR, Roma, AQ/1/168, 15.
 
  • #4
Pythagorean said:
The author says that shelf life might be closer to 10 yrs than 100 yrs. The article is a review, not original research. So if you can see its references, you might find original research there about decade-length lifetimes. A lot of them are Italian though:

Bertolani, R. (1982). Tardigradi (Tardigrada). Guide per il riconoscimento
delle specie animali delle acque interne italiane.
Quaderni CNR, Roma, AQ/1/168, 15.

Unfortunately no. And I find this really annoying. Springer, elsevier, francis etc don't let me read an article without subscription. I'm fine with this, but they won't even let me see the references.
 
  • #5
Elsevier (insert ranting and expletives on scientific publishing here).
 

1. How can tardigrades be considered "indestructible"?

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, have the ability to enter a state of suspended animation called cryptobiosis. In this state, they can survive extreme conditions such as heat, cold, radiation, and even the vacuum of space. When conditions become favorable again, they can come back to life and continue their normal activities.

2. Can tardigrades be eaten by humans?

While tardigrades are considered to be indestructible, they are not indestructible to everything. They can be eaten by some microorganisms and larger animals such as nematodes. However, they are not a suitable food source for humans as they are too small and contain little nutritional value.

3. Are there any potential health risks from eating tardigrades?

As mentioned before, tardigrades are not a suitable food source for humans. While they are not known to cause any health risks, they may carry bacteria or viruses that could potentially be harmful if ingested. It is best to avoid eating tardigrades altogether.

4. Can tardigrades be cooked or prepared in any way for consumption?

Since tardigrades are microscopic creatures, they cannot be cooked or prepared in any way for consumption. Additionally, their tough outer shell and ability to survive extreme conditions make them nearly impossible to digest.

5. Why would anyone want to eat tardigrades if they are not suitable for consumption?

There is no known cultural or traditional reason for consuming tardigrades. They are mostly studied for their unique abilities and potential applications in biotechnology. Eating them would not provide any benefits and could potentially have negative consequences, so it is not recommended.

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