Tiny, peculiar and creepy but in a cuddly sort of way, eight-legged tardigrades—also known as “water bears”—may help advance radiation safety in medical imaging.
According to a study in Nature Communications, the microscopic creatures sport a protein that protects DNA against all sorts of stressors, including ionizing radiation.
More to the point, the researchers found that “tardigrade-tinged human cells” can “suppress x-ray induced damage by about 40 percent,” according to coverage of the study posted at Nature.com.
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Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.