Can Water Bears Survive Space? Meet the Tardigrade! Lesson 108

What is a water bear? And how does it survive space travel? Discover a microscopic animal that might be the toughest creature on earth: the tardigrade!

Here’s our trail map:

• If a Water Bear Isn’t a Bear, What Is It?
• How Does a Tardigrade Grow Up?
• How Is a Tardigrade the Toughest Animal on Earth?
• How Does God Help Us Endure Hard Things?

Eryn's Books:

• The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
• Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615
• 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/936-Pennies-Discovering-Intentional-Parenting/dp/0764219782

Episode Links:

• America’s Story: American History Homeschool Curriculum from a Biblical worldview: https://www.masterbooks.com/americas-story-series
• Explore all of Master Books Christ-centered books, curriculum, and resources: https://www.masterbooks.com/
• Explore Apologia’s award-winning curriculum at https://www.apologia.com/
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Water Bear Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/what-is-a-tardigrade/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• An excellent video about tardigrades from Answers in Genesis (Used in researching this lesson): https://youtu.be/FcMPpXSAeV4?si=P8PeUmKY1a9ah8Sd

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“How many are your works, Lord!

    In wisdom you made them all;

    the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24 (NIV)

“So don’t worry, because I am with you.

    Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.

I will make you strong and will help you;

    I will support you with my right hand that saves you.” Isaiah 41:10 (NCV)

“...the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

    let them sing joyful praises forever.

Spread your protection over them,

    that all who love your name may be filled with joy.” Psalm 5:11 (NLT)

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:44 (NLT)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Tardigrade: Meaning “slow stepping.” A microscopic animal (without any bones) and with eight legs (often called a water bear).
• Tardigrada: A phylum (large category) of animals including only tardigrades, with more than 1,200 unique species.
• Microscopic: Something so small that you cannot see it with only your eyes. You need a microscope to see it.
• Invertebrate: A group of animals that don’t have a backbone.
• Cuticle: A tough and flexible outer layer that covers a tardigrade's body, which the tardigrade molts and regrows as it gets larger.
• Piercing Stylet: A hard, sharp mouthpart the tardigrade uses to pierce food and eat the fluids inside.
• Hypertrophy: An increase in the size of a tissue or organ (growth) caused by cells getting larger, not by making more cells.
• Cryptobiosis: A process that dramatically slows down metabolism to survive harsh conditions.
• Tun Stage: During cryptobiosis when a tardigrade rolls up into a protective ball and dries out to survive harsh conditions.
• Cyst Stage: When a tardigrade creates extra cuticle layers around its tun state for extra protection.
• Dsup: A damage suppressor protein that shields a tardigrade’s DNA from damage.
• TDR1: A DNA repair machine found in tardigrades. When DNA gets damaged, TDR1 repairs the broken spots so the cell can work normally again.

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