# Are bacteria virtually immortal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bacteria-virtually-immortal/235526>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 21, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bacteria-virtually-immortal/235526 "2004-03-21T06:40:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bacteria-virtually-immortal/235526/1 "2004-03-21T06:40:03Z")

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This story (if substantiated) suggests that they may be pretty close to immortal.

[Scientists revive bacteria trapped in amber for 30 million years](http://www.spaceref.com/redirect.ref?url=whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/008amber/molec_bio.html&id=2394)

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**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bacteria-virtually-immortal/235526/2 "2004-03-21T07:38:25Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> In addition, Cano and former graduate student Monica Borucki were awarded U.S. patent #5,593,883 in March, 1997. The broad patent covered the recovery of bacteria and other ancient organisms, including fungi, viruses, pollen, and protozoa, from amber and other ancient resins. The patent was assigned to Cano’s company, Ambergene Corp., of San Francisco.

Ugh, I hate broad patents such as this, he might as well just patent growing bacteria on a plate. He’s only hurting science.

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**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bacteria-virtually-immortal/235526/3 "2004-03-21T08:57:31Z")

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Erm, did you actually read that article?

Everything about it SCREAMS infomercial.

Note this

“Analyzing the chemistry of the organisms, he’s found a new antibiotic,”

And this,

“Cano claims he resurrected at least 30 to 40 species of bacteria from ancient spores, and grew them on culture plates”

What about this?

He’s also formed a company (Ambergene) which is trying to find industrial, agricultural and medicinal uses for the chemicals produced by his oldsters.

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**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bacteria-virtually-immortal/235526/4 "2004-03-21T09:20:52Z")

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It’s true that endosporification can greatly increase the lifespan of bacteria that are capable of it, but not all bacteria are, nor do most spores last that long when they do form. Spores can still be ‘killed’, too.