Cryptobiosis
Cryptobiosis (pronunciation: krip-toh-bi-oh-sis) is a physiological state in which an organism's metabolic activities come to a reversible standstill due to unfavorable environmental conditions. The term is derived from the Greek words "krypto" meaning "to hide" and "biosis" meaning "way of life".
Etymology
The term "Cryptobiosis" originates from the Greek words "krypto" (κρυπτός) which means "hidden" or "secret", and "biosis" (βίος) which means "life". It was first used in the late 19th century to describe the state of apparent lifelessness observed in certain organisms under extreme environmental conditions.
Types of Cryptobiosis
There are several types of cryptobiosis, including Anhydrobiosis, Cryobiosis, Osmobiosis, and Chemobiosis. Each type is triggered by a different environmental stressor, such as desiccation, freezing, high osmotic pressure, or exposure to harmful chemicals, respectively.
Anhydrobiosis
Anhydrobiosis (from the Greek "an" meaning "without", "hydro" meaning "water", and "biosis" meaning "life") is a form of cryptobiosis that occurs in response to desiccation. Organisms in this state can survive without water for extended periods.
Cryobiosis
Cryobiosis (from the Greek "kryo" meaning "cold", and "biosis" meaning "life") is a form of cryptobiosis triggered by extremely low temperatures. Organisms in this state can survive freezing conditions.
Osmobiosis
Osmobiosis (from the Greek "osmo" meaning "push", and "biosis" meaning "life") is a form of cryptobiosis that occurs in response to high osmotic pressure. Organisms in this state can survive in highly saline or sugary environments.
Chemobiosis
Chemobiosis (from the Greek "chemo" meaning "chemical", and "biosis" meaning "life") is a form of cryptobiosis triggered by exposure to harmful chemicals. Organisms in this state can survive in environments with high concentrations of toxic substances.
Examples of Cryptobiotic Organisms
Several organisms exhibit cryptobiosis, including Tardigrades, Nematodes, Brine shrimp, and certain species of Yeast and Bacteria.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cryptobiosis
- Wikipedia's article - Cryptobiosis
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