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WorldGala Team, April 10, 2006
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FULL STORY |
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science |
Saturday, April 8th, 2006, 08:44 |
Carp species can live without oxygen for days, maybe months |
Scientists at the University of Oslo have discovered how the Crucian Carp is able to live for months without oxygen.
The researchers hope that understanding how some animals cope with a lack of
oxygen might provide clues to how humans might survive.
"Anoxia-related diseases are the major causes of death in the industrialized
world," said Professor Göran Nilsson. "We have here a situation where evolution
has solved the problem of anoxic survival millions of years ago, something that
medical science has struggled with for decades with limited success."
The researchers found this extraordinary fish can change the structure of its
gills to avoid becoming anoxic, the Society for Experimental Biology reported.
It has a much higher affinity for oxygen than any other vertebrate, and also
makes tranquilizers and produces alcohol when oxygen supplies are limited.
These mechanisms allow the fish to survive and remain active without oxygen for
days or even months, depending on the water temperature.
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