Researchers discover unique DNA repair mechanism in bdelloid rotifers

Researchers from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and UCLouvain have identified a unique DNA repair strategy in bdelloid rotifers, tiny animals capable of surviving extreme radiation and desiccation. The study, published in Science Advances, focuses on the species Adineta vaga, which can withstand ionizing radiation doses over 100 times the lethal limit for humans.

At such high doses, chromosomes are shattered into hundreds of fragments. The researchers discovered a previously unknown mechanism they have named ‘BIHER’ (break-induced homologous extension repair). Unlike standard repair processes, this strategy allows fragmented chromosomes to be preserved and passed down through generations, where they are gradually reconstructed using intact fragments from the homologous chromosome as a template.

This discovery provides new insights into how life adapts to extreme environments and how genomic integrity is maintained under severe stress.