Expert: Walter Hintz - 2/3/2010

Question
Mr. Hintz,

Hi! I'm Mark and I have a personal interest in Biology. I have a question I hope you can answer. I might be wrong but isn't Cryptobiosis a way for certain organisms to protect themselves from bad conditions by putting themselves in a sort of coma. When they come out they are just like they were before. So, since they are basically frozen in time, could an organism go into Cryptobiosis today and come back to life in 100 years or can an organism only stay in Cryptobiosis for a certain period of time before dying? I appreciate any response. Thanks!

Mark

Answer
Hi  Mark
You are correct. Cryptobiosis is an ametabolic state that certain organisms enter into when conditions change It is common among prokaryotes like spore forming bacteria and some eukaryotes like brine shrimp tardigrades and rotifers. Many protozoans can encyst for long periods.  Your question is for how long.  The TB  bacterium has been found to persist for 300 years but there is evidence that encysted bacteria will eventually die. DNA however has been reactivated from fossils.