Can Survive Without Sex

Mystery of these microscopic animals that live in waters began to unfold. First, the gender are all female. Second, animals called rotifers bdelloid are very pleased to engulf foreign DNA from other simple living things.

The tiny, all-female bdelloid rotifers have endured the past 80 million years without sex. (Picture from: http://www.mnn.com/)

"This microscopic creature has passed 80 million years without sex," says Alan Tunnacliffe, a professor at the University of Cambridge, UK, who led the study, said on November 21, 2012. According Tunnacliffe to scrape a living, these animals ingest the DNA of bacteria, fungi, and algae.

The research team found 10 percent of active genes in the bdelloid body comes from the other microscopic creatures. Tunnacliffe claimed not to know how the gene transfer occurred. Alleged while bdelloid eating behavior stating that triggered the exchange of genetic material. "Bdelloid will eat anything smaller than their heads," he said.

All-female species survives by stealing DNA of other animals. (Picture from: http://www.geekosystem.com/)

Bdelloid eating behavior greatly affect their ability to survive. Therefore, animals capable of splitting din was previously thought to be extinct due to lack of genetic diversity and gene mutated breed because of the same individual.

Apparently, this animal has managed to avoid any adverse impact asexual behavior and develop into at least 400 species. Eating behavior of foreign DNA not only maintain the diversity of genes in bdelloid body. These animals are known to withstand extreme dehydration, partly thanks to the foreign DNA they swallowed.

The study that published in the journal PLoS Genetics, found that some of the foreign gene is activated when bdelloid from hunger due to habitat dries. Foreign genes are also thought to function as a powerful antioxidant that protects the bdelloid body from the effects of drought. "Antioxidants are not yet identified, but we thought it was the result of foreign genes," added Tunnacliffe. *** [LIVESCIENCE | PLOS GENETICS | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4062]

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