Insects are amazing. You can see them everywhere on this planet, even harsh places like arctic or desert. More than 70 % of animal species belong to the insects. Insects are the most successful animals because they are highly adaptive to environment. Our institute focuses on the distinguished ability insects have and studies the adaptive mechanisms at mainly physiological and molecular level.
At our research unit, we have chosen an insect, the Sleeping, Chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki, having unbelievable desiccation tolerance, to such an extent that the larvae can stand complete dehydration and we study the mechanisms underlying this tolerance. This homepage provide you up-to-date information relating with this mysterious phenomenon, so called “cryptobiosis” or “anhydrobiosis” and also its application for generating novel preservation technology. |