A sustainable culture of tardigrades (Hypsibius dujardini) for astrobiological laboratory activities

¹ Instituto de Estudios Avanzados de Baja California, Ensenada, B.C. Mexico
² Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, B.C. Mexico
³ Laboratorio de Astrobiología, Instituto de Astronomía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ensenada, B.C. Mexico

^* Corresponding author: pgnunez@ideabc.org

Published online: 1 February 2019

Abstract

Tardigrades are microscopic organisms that have gained importance in astrobiology in recent years. They have extreme survival ability and can enter into a state of latency for several years called cryptobiosis. Due to our interest in conducting experiments with tardigrades to complement the laboratory exercises with students in the course of astrobiology, we bought samples of tardigrades in the cryptobiotic state. A sample of these were cultured at room temperature (18oC) with an oxygenation system, and fed with Spirulina algae every week. We found that in a few weeks tardigrades were producing eggs normally. This species, H. dujardini, has been cultured before and it is a good sample for culture as we saw. This species provides a good sustainable culture and is inexpensive and easy to produce tardigrades for didactic purposes.