Episode 51
Tardigrades
Dr. Frank Smith
In this episode, we talk all about Tardigrades, where to find them, how they’ve evolved, and more!

Visit the Smith Lab: https://franksmith.domains.unf.edu/
How to find Marine Tardigrades: https://tardigradehunters.weebly.com/marine-tardigrades.html
Check out Creature Cast: http://creaturecast.org/
Topics and Timestamps
- (0:00:55) Tardigrades in concrete.
- (0:01:35) Finding tardigrades: Moss, leaf litter and lichens.
- (0:02:50) Marine tardigrades: The contraption and process for collection.
- (0:05:54) Cryptobiosis and marine tardigrades.
- (0:06:53) The study of land tardigrades vs marine tardigrades.
- (0:08:16) Studying the diversity of tardigrades: The tardigrade meeting.
- (0:09:16) Tardigrades in concrete: A lack of literature and study.
- (0:09:55) Reinhart Christensen: Echiniscus Bigranualatist.
- (0:12:01) Solving mysteries that pre-date the fossil record.
- (0:13:33) Tardigrade fossils.
- (0:16:11) Evolution of tardigrades: A big discovery.
- (0:20:13) Arthropods vs Tardigrades: Does the trunk make a difference?
- (0:21:53) Tardigrade’s hind legs: Do they serve a purpose?
- (0:24:25) Tardigrades: An entire diverse phylum.
- (0:25:21) Do all tardigrades have eight legs and why did they develop this way?
- (0:29:39) Losing the ability to evolve: Is that why tardigrades are so tough?
- (0:32:06) Tardigrades vs Rotifers: Comparative studies.
- (0:32:55) Simplicity can be better: Losing body parts in evolution.
- (0:34:40) Tardigrade guts and how they work and eat.
- (0:37:52) The evolution of a tardigrade’s guts: Comparisons to other animals.
- (0:41:40) Mapping the tardigrade genome.
- (0:43:24) Editing the genomes in tardigrades: Is it possible?
- (0:45:09) Tardigrades in space.
- (0:47:34) Tardigrades on the moon: The experiment.
- (0:48:33) A new puppy, dog parks and the DNA test.
- (0:50:11) NBA playoffs, basketball and music.
- (0:51:20) The similarities between artists and scientists.
- (0:54:45) Tardigrade society meetings.
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