Almost 17.5% of Tardigrade’s DNA is Foreign, Find Researchers

Researchers studying the weird alien-like worm 'tardigrade 'were shocked to know that 17.5% of the microscopic work-like animal's DNA is foreign. This odd-looking creature is nearly indestructible and can be found almost everywhere on earth.

Researchers said the discovery of foreign DNA in tardigrade's extreme genome is another surprise they have came across in their study of these extreme creatures.

Tardigrades or water bears can be found all everywhere on earth and are characteristically 0.020-inches (0.5 millimetres) long. Water bears can even survive in extremely cold temperature, total dehydration, radiation bombardment, and even the vacuum of deep space.

Study lead author Thomas Boothby said in a statement that tardigrades have more than 6,000 foreign genes. These foreign genes are taken from bacteria, fungi and Archaea via a process called horizontal gene transfer (HGT).

Another new study has revealed that tardigrades have a special form of DNA, which makes them even more resistant.

According to experts, most animals have less than 1% of foreign DNA. The previous record-holder for the highest number of foreign genes is the rotifer that had half as much genes as that of tardigrade.

Study co-author Bob Goldstein said, "We had no idea that an animal genome could be composed of so much foreign DNA". Almost 17.5% of tardigrade genes closely resemble to genes from non-animal organisms like plants and bacteria.

Researchers after studying the creature have found that these foreign genes help the tiny animals survive in the harshest of environments.