Bdelloid rotifers are asexual, microscopic invertebrates that exhibit the ability to survive the most extreme conditions. Work in our lab showed that bdelloids could survive freezing at -80°C and - 195°C, with the survival rates ranging from 10-94% at -80°C. This poses an interesting phenomenon because current research has been unable to identify any osmoprotectant or cryoprotectant molecules that would aid this process. The goal of the research presented here was to examine any genotypic differences in freezing survival both among and within species of bdelloids. Statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in freezing survival rates in both cases.
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