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SUMMARY:Panagrolaimus davidi\, an Antarctic nematode model for the surviva
 l of extreme environmental stress - David Wharton\, Department of Zoology\
 , University of Otago
DTSTART:20100603T130000Z
DTEND:20100603T140000Z
UID:TALK24166@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Michael Thorne
DESCRIPTION:Nematodes are found in almost all environments\, including tho
 se where they are often exposed to extreme environmental stress. _Panagrol
 aimus davidi_ is an Antarctic nematode living associated with moss and alg
 ae in terrestrial habitats on the Victoria Land coast that are free of sno
 w and ice for part of the year. It has to survive very variable thermal an
 d hydric environments where liquid water and temperatures suitable for gro
 wth are only periodically available. _P. davidi_ can survive complete wate
 r loss (anhydrobiosis) and is the only organism that has been shown to sur
 vive intracellular ice formation throughout its tissues. It has several co
 ld tolerance strategies\, including\; freeze avoidance\, cryoprotective de
 hydration\, freezing tolerance and anhydrobiosis. The mechanisms involved 
 may include the production of trehalose\, ice active proteins and the cont
 rol of ice nucleation. \nDo the different survival strategies of _P. david
 i_ represent the expression of different gene sets or does the production 
 of stress-related compounds provide protection against a variety of enviro
 nmental challenges? Other nematodes\, including _Caenorhabditis elegans_\,
  are not so resistant to desiccation and freezing. Comparing the genomes o
 f _P. davidi_ and _C. elegans_ may thus highlight the adaptations that are
  necessary for the survival of extreme environmental stress.\n
LOCATION:British Antarctic Survey\, Room 330B
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