Tag: tardigrade

‘Water bear’ protein shields human DNA from X-rays

PARIS, France (AFP) – by Marlowe HOOD A protein unique to a miniscule creature called a water bear, reputedly the most indestructible animal on Earth, protects human DNA from X-ray damage, stunned researchers reported Monday. Human cells cultivated with the newly-discovered protein, dubbed “Dsup” for “damage suppressor”, experienced half as much decay as normal cells when blasted with radiation. “We were really surprised,” said lead author Takuma Hashimoto, a biologist at the University of Tokyo […]