Small jar, big benefits.

Could you survive in temperatures below -30ºC? Although it seems impossible for humans to put up with those temperatures, there are other kinds of living beings who do; not only animals and not just thanks to their fur.

For decades, scientists have studied and used protein molecules present in different organisms, including insects, fish, plants and bacteria, and which are mostly used for extending harvest and improving farm fish production in cooler climates; also are used for enhancing preservation of tissues for transplant or transfusion in medicine, and treating hypothermia. But a recent discovery in this field can place an important change in the use of antifreeze molecules.

In Alaska, scientists of the University of Notre Dame have been working with an antifreeze molecule taken from a freeze-tolerant Alaskan beetle (Upis ceramboides). This molecule, unlike most of the molecules used in science, is not a protein but a mixture of fatty acids and saccharides which exists in this type of beetle in small quantities.

Some of its most interesting aspects are that this molecule is the first one tried on isolation of antifreeze and also given that its chemical composition could be easily synthesized in the laboratory of small chains of sugar companies, making them cheaper and easier to manufacture than biologically assembled molecules.

Given this recent discovery, scientist have started to look out for more uses for this molecule and see what else this small creatures have to offer. How much has the natural world for us? Can you imagine all the possibilities? For now the best I can think is that we are getting closer to use them as examples and not so much as raw material.