Ep. 107: Blood

On Episode 7 of “The Tardigrade Chronicles”, we explore the critical life-sustaining fluid known as blood.  This dynamic complex fluid is known for volume regulation, sustaining life through carrying oxygen, and being the front-line strategy for lifeforms to respond and communicate immune challenges. We trace the natural evolution of blood and the discoveries and innovations divined from existing lifeforms - such as rapid-clotting materials derived from crab shells and tests for bacterial contaminants made possible by horseshoe crab blood. Humans have pursued blood substitutes throughout history, so we cover the field’s modern innovators and the current challenges still facing them to in produce a cost-efficient unit of artificial blood for transfusion.  Please join us for this fascinating episode of “The Tardigrade Chronicles”.