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In recent years, a series of experiments by NASA-funded researchers at the University of Maryland has probed the limits of Halobacterium's powers of self-repair, using cutting-edge genetic techniques to see exactly what molecular tricks the 'master' uses to keep its DNA intact. Being a virtuoso at repairing damaged DNA makes Halobacterium one hardy little microbe: in experiments by the Maryland research group, Halobacterium has survived normally-lethal doses of ultraviolet radiation (UV), extreme dryness, and even the vacuum of space.
Learning
how all these repair mechanisms work could teach scientists a lot about
how DNA repair occurs in humans, and perhaps point to ways to enhance
people's natural ability to cope with damage to their DNA--a possible
boon to astronauts. Not bad for a humble microbe.