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cryptobiosis

British  
/ ˌkrɪptəʊbaɪˈəʊsɪs /

noun

  1. zoology a temporary state in an organism in which metabolic activity is absent or undetectable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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After all, the fundamental trick to cryptobiosis is a complete state of inactivity, which jokes about laziness aside is not physically possible for humans.

From Salon • Sep. 1, 2024

They found that the modern worm also uses trehalose to protect itself in cryptobiosis.

From NewsForKids.net • Aug. 10, 2023

The same genes were found in a contemporary nematode called Caenorhabditis elegans, which can also achieve cryptobiosis.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2023

During the analyses, the researchers also looked for genes that the common C. elegans is known to use when a particular form of that worm, called the dauer larva, goes into the dormancy of cryptobiosis.

From Scientific American • Jul. 27, 2023

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are able to adapt to extreme environments because of a process called cryptobiosis.

From National Geographic • Aug. 2, 2016