The influence of mass culture, especially cinema, is great and undeniable. Take, for example, suspended animation. What is this, people have little idea, but everyone who is older than three to five years knows about it thanks to films like “Aliens” or “Avatar”. However, in the interpretation of the term there are certain, very common misconceptions. Most will say that suspended animation is a death-like dream. But such a description is more suitable for lethargy, which is a painful condition associated with severe exhaustion, hysteria, and severe sudden unrest. And the state of suspended animation is a protective, nature-planned reaction that helps to survive regular adverse circumstances.
History of the term
First discovered and described such a phenomenon, Levenguk, and it happened two and a half centuries ago. In a somewhat random experiment, he placed dry sand in the water. After some time, under a microscope, I saw small organisms in an active state. After drying, they again visually ceased to exist. Levenguk called these small animals rotifers - and so suspended animation was first described. What is this phenomenon, said William Preyer. He gave it a name, and this happened much later, at the end of the 19th century (or rather, in 1873). Translation of the term itself occurs in two versions. According to the first “ana” - “no”, and “bios” - “life”. The second part, by the way, is always translated the same way. But the first is sometimes interpreted as "again." Accordingly, in the first case we have “not life”, “imaginary death”, in the second - “revival”, “return to life”.
Anabiosis: what is it from the point of view of biology
All processes characteristic of an organism falling into such a state are so slow that there are no external signs of life. This is the principle of suspended animation. The condition manifests itself when environmental conditions worsen. Anabiosis is most pronounced in bacteria, protozoa that are able to form a cyst, and fungi. In the distribution area, desert creatures, which react in this way to high temperatures, occupy the first place. It should also be noted, speaking about suspended animation, that this phenomenon is temporary, passing on its own, as soon as the conditions around become more favorable. No additional efforts are required to revitalize.
Types of suspended animation
According to the frequency and conditions of the onset, suspended animation is divided into forced and seasonal. The first comes to the aid of an organism capable of it, when suddenly the surrounding conditions change so much that they cast doubt on its existence. All the same Levenguk's experiments can serve as an example.
Seasonal is distinguished by a certain periodicity; living things fall into it in an unfavorable season for them and prepare for it in advance. Or it is peculiar to a certain stage of development. A typical example is cysts, seeds, spores, mosquito larvae.
You can also highlight the full (true, or real) and incomplete suspended animation. The first in nature is extremely rare - too many conditions and factors must coincide. At the same time, all biochemistry in the "sleeping" body stops, but the ability to restore life remains. Incomplete suspended animation is characterized by the preservation of part of the biochemical processes in action. The list of those who use it is much wider.
Who is capable of suspended animation
The list is not so big, especially if we have in mind the true suspended animation:
- spore forming bacteria;
- mushrooms - not those that are eaten, but microscopic;
- invertebrates and protozoa - from intestinal (individual species) to a few insects;
- from vertebrates - bats, some amphibians (Siberian lugfish and dallia - fish found in Chukotka and Alaska);
- in plants, spores and seeds are noteworthy in this respect, the Jericho rose, in which vegetative organs fall into suspended animation.
Basic conditions
Anabiosis is impossible without dehydration . However, not all dehydration leads to it: in the process of suspended animation, the protein structure should be preserved , which is not available for most living organisms . If the protein is disturbed during dehydration, the restoration of the whole organism is not feasible - it dies.
Scientific disputes
There is no consensus among scientists about exactly what methods of dealing with harsh environmental conditions can be attributed to the concept of "suspended animation". What does this term mean? Not everyone agrees that it can be attributed to hibernation. But since most processes are inhibited: the animal does not need food, does not defecate, does not suffer from cold and does not feel thirst, continues to breathe, the heart beats, and certain biochemical reactions in the body do not stop, many researchers still tend to think that hibernation is possible considered an option of incomplete, partial suspended animation.
But the suspension of life processes in cold-blooded confidently refers to suspended animation by all scientists. The basis is at least the fact that before falling into this state, the organism of the same frogs begins to produce a kind of antifreeze, which is needed to prevent crystallization of water inside the cells, which invariably leads to rupture of cell membranes and death of the animal. The frog stops the heart, the kidneys do not work, there is no breathing. And protein - the most vulnerable component of the body - is converted into a hydrogel, similar in appearance to dry gelatin. In suspended animation, the frog looks no different from the dead. However, with warming, the heart begins to beat, and all functions are restored.
Perspectives for Man
If at any time anabiosis of a person becomes possible, medicine will immediately proceed to the next step. It will be possible to maintain the body of the victim in integrity until he can be cured. Interstellar travels will be quite accessible (remember space-science fiction films again). However, in the near future it is not necessary to expect such a breakthrough.