Scientists have found a damage suppressing gene in tardigrades that they have called Dsup. It directs the production of a protein that can protect DNA, partially explaining tardigrades' resistance to the effects of radiation. The scientists also inserted the gene into human cells and found that the Dsup-treated cells suffered less damage from X-ray exposure.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37384466 [bbc.com]
Extremotolerant tardigrade genome and improved radiotolerance of human cultured cells by tardigrade-unique protein
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2016/160920/ncomms12808/full/ncomms12808.html [nature.com]
(open, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12808)