Scientists have resurrected 7,000-year-old phytoplankton, making it one of the oldest organisms to ever be revived.
But I know what youre thinking: Since when can we bring life back from the dead?
The phytoplanktontiny photosynthetic marine algaewerent dead, but in a deep sleep mode known as dormancy.
Researchers revived Skeletonema marinoi that had been dormant for nearly 7,000 years.© S. Bolius, IOW
Their work has, quite literally, brought to life a snapshot of ancient Baltic Sea ecology.
Many life forms enter a dormant state with reduced metabolic activity to wait out periods of difficult environmental conditions.
They successfully collected and revived organisms from nine samples, some of which date back almost 7,000 years.
The team then analyzed the ancient phytoplankton and compared them to modern specimens.
This indicates that the Baltic SeasSkeletonema marinoigenetically evolved over time.
It seems likeSleeping Beautyhad nothing onSkeletonema marinoi.
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