Tardigrades, microscopic animals also known as water bears, can survive extreme conditions by entering a desiccated state called cryptobiosis, in which they reduce their water content to less than 3 percent and suspend metabolic activity. Specimens revived after decades in this state have resumed normal activity, and tardigrades have survived exposure to the vacuum and radiation of space.
Based on the passage, which inference is most strongly supported?
- A
Tardigrades cannot survive in ordinary water environments
- B
Tardigrades have been observed reproducing in outer space
- C
Cryptobiosis is the standard active state of tardigrades
- Dcheck_circle
Tardigrades use cryptobiosis as a tool for surviving conditions that would kill most organisms
Explanation
Survival across extreme conditions through cryptobiosis supports B. A contradicts their nature; C and D are unsupported.