Desiccation

A desiccant is a hygroscopic (attracts and holds water) substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container.

These materials are obtained in a hydrated state, but the water content leads to corrosion or is incompatible with downstream processing.

[3] Radiation resistance is considered to be an incidental consequence of the organism's evolutionary adaptation to dehydration, a common physiological stress in nature.

[4] DNA double-strand breaks are repaired principally by a RecA-dependent recombination process that requires the presence of two genome copies.

[5] NHEJ appears to be the preferred pathway for repairing double-strand breaks caused by desiccation during the stationary phase.

Upon exposure to extreme dryness, Bacillus subtilis endospores acquire DNA-double strand breaks and DNA-protein crosslinks.

Desiccation cracks in sludge .
Centripetal desiccation cracks in the Lower Jurassic Moenave Formation at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, southwestern Utah . A dinosaur footprint is at center.
A vacuum desiccator (left) and desiccator (right). Silica gel with cobalt chloride indicator placed in the lower shelf is used as the desiccant.
Callistemon hybrid desiccated by heat and dryness (Sydney)
Desiccation of the L4-L5 and L5-S1 spinal discs are evident on color MRI as loss of blue color is visible on these levels.