Unique Earth Cryosphere Centre Will Open in Tyumen

17.04.2009 — News

THE TYUMEN OBLAST.

A research and education centre "Earth Cryosphere Bioinert Systems" will open in Tyumen; this is the only such establishment in Russia. It will be established under the auspices of the Tyumen Science Centre of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Tyumen State Oil and Gas University.

In 2010-2011 the Russian Academy of Sciences will spend 30 million roubles on equipping the centre including the laboratory block and the cryobank. RusBusinessNews was informed by the Tyumen University that, in addition to studying unique bacteria found in frozen soils, the scientists will also work with stem cells.

According to Vladimir Melnikov, the Director of the Earth Cryosphere Institute, a Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Siberian scientists have discovered a unique bacterium - microbiota which remained alive in frozen soil for millions of years and can still reproduce.

"This is a new page in natural sciences", - V.Melnikov pointed out, - "scientific proof suggested that DNA molecules can be preserved no longer than 30 thousand years. We are very surprised too, as we are coming closer to the mystery of origins of life on Earth. It is quite possible that having this mystery resolved we may change our future."

65% of the area of Russia is covered with frozen soils which hide unexplored useful and harmful bacteria. They might serve as an additional resource of profit and also become the foundation for new discoveries made by Russian scientists.