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Dormant bug warmed back to life after 100,000 years

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Published Date: 15 June 2009
By John von Radowitz
A TINY purple bug discovered three kilometres under Greenland ice has been reawakened from a slumber lasting more than 100,000 years.
Scientists believe the unusual bacterium, named Herminiimonas glaciei, may hold clues to life on other planets.

Researchers coaxed the dormant frozen microbes back to life by carefully warming the ice samples containing them over 11 and a half months.

As the bugs awakened and began to replicate, colonies of very small purple-brown bacteria started to appear.

Dr Jennifer Loveland-Curtze, who led the US team at Pennsylvania State University, said: "These extremely cold environments are the best analogues of possible extraterrestrial habitats. The exceptionally low temperatures can preserve cells for millions of years."



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  • Last Updated: 14 June 2009 9:41 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Mashimaro,

China 15/06/2009 00:11:19
Hmmm maybe I shouldn't have watched "Dreamweaver" this weekend.
2

Kipling,

15/06/2009 00:23:36
The possible similarity to bugs in outer space was surely the least important thing about these teeny weenies. But then, maybe it keeps the funding going. The story doesn't say how they knew the bugs were in the ice...
3

,

15/06/2009 00:31:04
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
4

2dogs in D.C.,

let us lie,ya know.. 15/06/2009 00:48:58
Hey,you,keep it down,I was sleepin'-Bark Bark ect.
5

,

15/06/2009 01:12:57
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
6

Barney Thomson,

Reading 15/06/2009 01:24:59
FAO Zargon - see above

Congratulations, the invasion plan seems to be working. Prepare the ships.

Yours, ZZXlosht
7

missing home,

la verne 15/06/2009 06:49:45
Jurassic Park??
8

Kenny A,

15/06/2009 07:37:42
Man they must be desperate for a pint after that time.
9

The new waspy,

15/06/2009 15:16:41
Bet the first thing they asked was "have hibs won the cup yet?"
10

Taz,

The Land of the Free 15/06/2009 23:50:08
Maggie!! is that you????

Ronnie.
11

Diego Plasma Residue,

USA 01/07/2009 03:02:13
The next thing to do is for these beenie heads to publish this bugs genome all over the internet , just like they did about a year ago with the 1918 big bad flu bug that was called the Spanish Flu for some odd reason. The idea that all information should be broadcast over the internet without restrictions is not all that great an idea. The Bio-Hackers that have little gene spliching outfits in the back yard tool shead or basment thinking that they will be the next Bill Gates of bio-genetic engineering is just asking for something to go wrong! I used to work with a so called kid genius , no ethics what so ever , he would lie cheat and steal anything & everything that was not nailed down ; then you have fanatics that would be more than happy to infect themselves and eveybody they could sneeze on just because of some apocalyptical set of ideas about something from the book of Ezekiel or something!. Time to stock up on Tamaflu , if that is even worth taking anymore: D.

 

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