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How does DNA half-life factor into cells and seeds that last thousands of years and are still viable? [1] I assume seed cells probably aren’t dividing, but I g
by friedturkey 5y ago
How does DNA half-life factor into cells and seeds that last thousands of years and are still viable? [1]
I assume seed cells probably aren’t dividing, but I guess maybe they could be using energy and slowly reproducing? And apparently bacterial spores can basically freeze themselves in time for thousands of years and wake themselves up once conditions are favorable.
[1] https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14125-jesus-era-seed-is-the-oldest-to-germinate/amp/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14125-jesus-era-seed-...
- axg11 5y agoI believe here they’re referring to the half-life of free DNA. In cells (plant or human) the DNA will be bound by a range of different proteins, wrapped up and packaged (e.g histones, but there are many other types too). Presumably the half-life of these proteins is shorter than free DNA but their presence will still change the overall half-life. Environmental conditions are another factor. The inside of a seed could have a more controlled pH, temperature, humidity when compared to the surrounding environment. That would also change the effective half-life.
- dekhn 5y agoBdelloid rotifers over 20K years old have been revived and propagated, and these are actual animals, so we know that in the case of creatures capable of cryptobiosis, there's enough high quality DNA after 20K to sustain life. To reach cryptobiosis involves packing the interior of cells with materials and reducing metabolism tremendously (I suspect there is still some tiny residual activity, barely measureable), and probably also some repair enzymes for the inevitable strand breaks.