Scientists have detected unexpected activity in dormant bacteria spores, showing for the first time that even when they're physiologically 'dead', the organisms are still aware of their surroundings.
Using a stored supply of charged particles for energy, rather than their usual fuel, the bacteria could actively respond to tiny changes in nutrient levels to determine a prime time to wake.
The discovery challenges our understanding of not just how disease spreads, but also how life could survive in extreme states here on Earth and beyond.says molecular biologist and lead researcher Gürol Süel"We show that cells in a deeply dormant state have the ability to process information. We discovered that spores can release their stored electrochemical potential energy to perform a computation about their environment without the need for metabolic activity.
frameborder="0″ allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen> The implications also spread beyond disease management here on Earth – it's often thought that one way we may encounter extraterrestrial life is in similar dormant states.
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