While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, University of Wyoming Director of Institutional Communications Chad Baldwin told listeners a little about the studies of University of Wyoming assistant professor of molecular biology Thomas Boothby, which involve a very special microscopic survivor.
Boothby and his team recently received an $857,794 NASA grant to study the effects of water loss on tardigrades. These special little creatures, also known as “water bears,” are renowned for surviving a number of environmental stresses, including being dried out.
Chad Baldwin
C. Baldwin
According to Baldwin, in 2020 and 2021, tardigrades from Boothby’s UW lab were part of an experiment on the International Space Station aimed at better understanding changes to their gene expression as they experienced stressful environments in space.
Boothby recently discovered 17 proteins found only in tardigrades, according to the grant proposal. These CAHS proteins may prove key to tardigrades surviving in extremely dry conditions.
The study has applications right here at home. Baldwin said this may lead to new techniques in treating donated blood, giving the blood a longer shelf life.
Boothby expects the grant project to start in October and run through September 2025.
Find more on this study, here.
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Last modified: September 29, 2022