From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rms2g@virginia.edu)
Date: Fri Dec 20 2002 - 11:11:36 MST
John Clark wrote:
> "Rafal Smigrodzki" <rms2g@virginia.edu> Wrote:
>
> >We don't know how long it takes to evolve highly
> >radiation-resistant spores,
>
> I don't know if Panspermia is true or not but the fact that a
> bacteria like Deinococcus radiodurans exists is very puzzling. A
> radiation level of just 500 rads can kill a human but D. radiodurans
> not only lives but thrives after being hit with 1.5 million rads, and
> if you freeze the bacteria first it lives even after 3 million rads.
> Why would Evolution go to all the trouble to provide that much
> protection against a threat it is unlikely to ever see? Perhaps the
> radiation protection is just a byproduct of something else
That would be my guess as well.
Rafal
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