Tardigrade protein helps human DNA withstand radiation (2016)

[jbb67]

I wonder what the cost is. If producing a protein that protects against these things was without a downside, it seems likely many species would have selected for it. I feel there must be a downside to it that selects against it in most organisms.

[MaxBarraclough]

Check the first comment on that page https://www.nature.com/news/1.20648#comment-2911888136

> I think that the single most significant property of the adult tardigrade in relation to stress resistance is that its somatic cells are eutelic, that is, after hatching as an adult, the somatic cells do not divide

Tardigrades are very peculiar in this regard: after hatching, they grow to adult size not by cellular division (mitosis), but by growing the cells (hypertrophy).

If that's the key to their ability to withstand radiation (beyond the effects of 'Dsup'), we humans have no hope of using the same trick.

(Disclaimer: I have no idea what I'm talking about, and haven't read the paper.)

[nellaby]

Bare in mind that tardigrades are known for being found everywhere, including extreme environments, and therefore there would be a selective advantage in being resilient to many forms of damage such as heat, cold and radiation. Most species stick to a particular niche and therefore mitigate the need to select for such resistance genes.

[jagger27]

I don't see it. Why would it be selected for if Earth is a relatively radiation free environment? Wouldn't the "downside" be that cell energy could be better spent on more relevant issues?

[Semirhage]

Given that it’s a foreign protein, I’d expect a potential autoimmune/allergic response in some part of the population.

[xchaotic]

We're finally getting close to discovering the spore drive.

[ionised]

This would make S.T.A.L.K.E.R. a far less interesting game.