There is a small, unique type of jellyfish. These jellyfish can theoretically live forever! These jellyfish are called the immortal jellyfish for their characteristics. Immortal jellyfish use transdifferentiation to live forever. This process is where the old cells just form new ones at an earlier age. This jellyfish could turn back into a polyp, or its earliest stage of age. Then the jellyfish just ages naturally again until the time comes to make new ones. Not all Turritopsis nutricula, the species of jellyfish, can do this. Only a small type within its species can perform transdifferentiation. But even with this incredible tool, these jellyfish still face dangers. They are susceptible to predators that eat jellyfish, and they could also get diseases. If none of those unfortunate things happen, then this jellyfish could live forever!
I found this article really mind blowing about how a organism can never die. Maybe scientists are trying to find out more in depth how they do this, so they could implement it with other things. Imagine if they find out how to get it into humans! I wouldn't want to live forever, but that would be a huge breakthrough in science! I thought this whole topic was cool, and I recommend it to all you bloggers out there!
Citation:
Murai, Takashi. "6 Animals Older Than The World's Oldest Woman." Popular Science. Bonnier, n.d. Web. 01 May 2013.
Wow! Great blog Jackson 1061! Could you imagine what a dictator could do with this live forever cell cycle?
ReplyDeleteMy mind is equally blown from this post. Max, a dictator with this life cycle would be like if Hitler and Stalin had a baby in the fountain of youth. Yikes.
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