Secret of Immortality - be a tiny jellyfish.

[weemadando]

Interesting that this particular critter can revert to a juvenile state - I'd be interested to see who much control it actually has over the process if any at all.

Jellyfish appears to be immortal

By staff writers

NEWS.com.au

January 27, 2009 02:56pm

A JELLYFISH may be immortal, scientists believe.

The turritopsis nutricula, a transparent 4-5mm diameter predator normally found in warm tropical waters, is the only known animal that is capable of reverting to its juvenile polyp state, the Times Online reports.

Jellyfish usually die after propagating but Turritopsis is capable of rejuvenating itself and reverting to a sexually immature stage after reaching adulthood.

Theoretically, this unique cycle can repeat indefinitely, rendering it potentially immortal.

Marine biologists and geneticists are researching how the jellyfish essentially reverses the ageing process.

It is thought that the creature's cells can actually transform from one type to another.

[Akkleptos]

I'm thinking: if genetically-engineering transgenic humans ever gets off the ground, this is one of the things scientists might want to look at first. Of course, the human genome must be way larger than that of the Turritopsis nutricula, but surely many interesting things could be learned given adecuate research funding.

Can anyone come forth with... er... harder data?

[weemadando]

Not sure - I haven't really come across anything more than that.

But still - a creature that can revert to it's juvenile state? FUCK YES.

[Kelp]

The article sounds like those scientists are reviving the art of alchemy, looking for the elixir of life.

However, there are species of flowers that bloom, reproduce then dies. There are the bulb type that bloom, reproduce and then revert back into their bulb state. I don't think perennial plants are considered immortal. Jellyfishes may just apply the same concept.

[Solauren]

There is a marked difference between a immobile plant doing this, and a mobile, active animal (even a Jellyfish).

The question of if it's true immortality is; does it retain memories (if applicable).

The only way I can think of to test that would be to teach it that 'blue means food' and 'yellow means discomfort' and let it go through a 'regeneration' cycle or two. Then test to see if it remembers (assuming Jellyfish can be trained at all).

If so, we have potiental immortality. If not (and jellyfish can be trained), we have potiental biological regeneration.


Oh and geek / fanboy reaction: OMFG!1!. Does this mean that Time Lords evolved out of Jellyfish!?!

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

There is a marked difference between a immobile plant doing this, and a mobile, active animal (even a Jellyfish).

The question of if it's true immortality is; does it retain memories (if applicable).

The only way I can think of to test that would be to teach it that 'blue means food' and 'yellow means discomfort' and let it go through a 'regeneration' cycle or two. Then test to see if it remembers (assuming Jellyfish can be trained at all).

Jellyfish don't have brains. They don't even have central nervous systems, just relatively simple neural nets.

Besides, the key to vertebrate immortality is likely held by several species of turtle.

[Solauren]

Just read the turtle article; They grow up, and then their organ's don't change / degrade? Wow.

Save those buggers from extinction, and study them, ASAP