Cambridge Ideas - Just Add Water

Rotifers are tiny animals that survive against all the odds. They are also known for not having had sex for 80 million years.

We follow Dr Alan Tunnacliffe, award-winning Cambridge researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology, as he tests their super-powers by draining 90% of the water in their microscopic bodies, heats them to boiling point and freezes them in liquid nitrogen.
Still they thrive! Well discover how these extraordinary animals are able to survive under conditions deadly to most life and what this teaches us about how life might travel through space and potentially how it could have arrived on Earth. More immediately, well see how Alans team are poised to revolutionise medicine by bringing the tough tricks of the Rotifers to human cells and medicines.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Just Add Water
• Biotechnology
• Rotifers
• Cambridge University
• Alan Tunnacliffe
• Learning
• Education
• University
• Science
• Research
• Cambridge
• life
• h20

[RichyBabess]

Does the organism gaining the materials of another for dna gain any features of that organism? Could that be used to create some kind of ultra fast evolving creature?

Also, anyone else here from seananners' twitter?

[commonman80]

Mankind is the most "Evolved" creature on earth?

I beg to differ.......

These things survive for years without, Food, water, shelter, or a brain..

Human being loose their money, or a mate, and they want to kill themselves.

Life is amazing.

[happinesson]

wow..brilliant connection and research about life and water! amazing creatures!

[muhammadzahmad]

fascinating video!!! 

[Abdull266]

That's really cool video

[EndureFocusEngageDie]

HAHAHA, So cold that it shatters! when we take it out.. *SMASH*

[fireontheriver9]

@jorgipogi - I think you misunderstand the kind of research that's going on here. First of all, rotifers are microscopic animals, not bacteria or viruses. Secondly, this is not genetic engineering or manipulation in any way; Dr. Tunnacliffe and his group are merely studying the creatures as they are found in nature to gain insight into their survival mechanisms. These are not "crazy" experiments, and there is no threat to human safety.

[jorgipogi]

No wonder there are so many viruses and bacteria. These scientists working and doing all kinds of crazy experiments with no regard for human safety or oversight.

[3kidderm8]

That's fascinating

[izzo3913]

Rotifers kick Cockroach butt.

[Trapmaker677]

this guys a genius

[Aprilshowersss]

excellent video