Anabiosis: what kind of phenomenon is it and to whom does it occur? The principle of suspended animation. Human anabiosis

The influence of mass culture, especially cinema, is great and undeniable. Take, for example, anabiosis. What it is, people imagine weakly, but everyone who is older than three - five years old knows about it, thanks to films like "Aliens" or "Avatar". However, in the taming of the term there are certain, very common misconceptions. Most will say that anabiosis is a dream similar to death. But such a description is rather suited to lethargy, which is a painful condition, accompanied by severe exhaustion, hysteria and violent sudden unrest. And the state of anabiosis is a protective, nature-planned reaction that helps to survive regular adverse circumstances.

History of origin of the term

For the first time discovered and described such a phenomenon Levenguk, and it happened two and a half centuries ago. In a few random experiments, he placed dry sand in the water. After a while, under a microscope, I saw small organisms in an active state. After drying, they again visually ceased to exist. These small animals Lewengook called Kolovratkami - and this was the first time that anabiosis was described. What is this phenomenon, said William Preyer. He gave it a name, and it happened much later, at the end of the 19th century (or rather, in 1873). The translation of the term itself occurs in two variants. According to the first "ana" - "no", and "bios" - "life." The second part, by the way, is always translated equally. But the first is sometimes interpreted as "again." Accordingly, in the first case we have "no life", "imaginary death", in the second case - "revival", "return to life".

Anabiosis: what is it in terms of biology?

All the processes inherent in a falling into such a state of the body are slowed down so much that there are no external signs of life. This is the principle of suspended animation. The condition is manifested when the environmental conditions worsen. The most pronounced anabiosis in bacteria, protozoa, which are capable of forming cyst, and fungi. According to the area of distribution, desert creatures occupy the first place, reacting in this way to high temperatures. Still it should be noted, speaking about anabiosis, that this phenomenon is temporary, passing independently, as soon as the conditions around become more favorable. There is no need to make any additional efforts to "revive" it.

Types of suspended animation

By periodicity and the conditions of the offensive, the anabiosis is divided into forced and seasonal. The first comes to the aid of a capable organism, when suddenly the surrounding conditions change so much that they call into question its existence. An example is the same experiments of Levenguk.

Seasonal differs by a certain periodicity; Living beings 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.

It is also possible to single out a complete (true, or real) and incomplete anabiosis. The first in nature is extremely rare - too many conditions and factors must coincide. At the same time, all the biochemistry in the "sleeping" body stops, but the ability to restore life remains. Incomplete anabiosis is characterized by the preservation of some of the biochemical processes in action. The list of those who use it is much broader.

Who is capable of anabiosis

The list is not so great, especially if one has in mind the true anabiosis:

• Bacteria forming spores;
• Mushrooms - not those that are used for food, but microscopic;
• Invertebrates and protozoa - from coelenterates (individual species) to a few insects;
• From vertebrates - bats, some amphibians (Siberian angular and Dalliya - fish, which is found in Chukotka and Alaska);
• In plants - spores and seeds, the Jericho rose in this respect is noteworthy, in which vegetative organs fall into anabiosis.

General conditions

Without dehydration, anabiosis is impossible. However, not all dehydration leads to it: in the process of anabiosis, the structure of the protein must remain , which for most living organisms is inaccessible. If the protein is broken during dehydration, the restoration of the whole organism is impossible - he dies.

Scientific disputes

Among scientists, there is no common opinion as to which methods of struggle with severe natural conditions can be attributed to the concept of "anabiosis." What does this term mean? With the fact that it can be attributed to hibernation, not all agree. But since most processes are inhibited: the animal does not need food, does not defecate, does not suffer from cold and does not feel thirsty, continues to breathe, the heart beats, and certain biochemical reactions in the body do not stop, many researchers still tend to the fact that hibernation can be Consider an option of incomplete, partial anabiosis.

But the suspension of life processes in the cold-blooded confidently refers to the anabiosis of all scientists. The basis is already at least that before the confluence of this state the body of the same frogs begins to develop a kind of antifreeze, which is necessary to prevent the crystallization of water inside the cells, which invariably leads to the rupture of cell membranes and the death of the animal. The frog stops the heart, the kidneys do not work, there is no breath. A protein - the most vulnerable component of the body - is converted into a hydrogel, similar in appearance to dry gelatin. In anabiosis, the frog does not externally differ from the dead one. However, the heart begins to beat with warming, and all functions are restored.

Prospects for a person

If someday it becomes possible anabiosis of a person, medicine will immediately move to the next step. It will be possible to keep the victim's body intact until it can be cured. Interstellar travel will be quite accessible (we again remember space-fantastic films). However, in the near future, such a breakthrough is not expected.