Turks Study Micro-Worm for Immortality's Secret

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(HaberTürk Newspaper, 16 December 2017)


                            I've got a secret.

A team headed by Prof. Ahmet Altındağ at Ankara University is
trying to solve the secret of a microscopic creature called "suayısı
tardigrada", which seems to be essentially immortal and can even
live in space.

The 1.5-millimeter creatures are thought to be so enduring that
even if all other living things expired they would still live for
another 10 billion years.  Dr. Altındağ explained that "this is a
long-term project that requires meticulous effort.  The research
is being done in Düzce and Zonguldak.  We're trying to figure out
how the tardigradas can be so enduring.  In the end, the genes may
be transferred to humans and extend human life.  NASA has sent
tardigradas into space but they were able to live there, too.  In fact,
the females gave birth in space and the offspring were healthy.  The
number of cells that a tardigrada is born with remains the same
forever."


                        Astro-tardigrada