Metabolism is the sum of chemical reactions that occur in living cells, and we are accustomed to living cells continuously using energy and respiring. even when plants and seeds are "dormant," we expect that they are carrying on metabolism but at a very slow rate. "cryptobiosis" is a state of almost total loss of water seen in some roundworms, rotifers, and tardigrades and has been considered a near cessation of metabolism. recently, a botanist working in a british museum accidentally spilled fluid on 120+ year old herbarium mounts. fearing damage to the plant specimen, he immediately inspected it under the microscope only to find small tardigrades "waking up."