Do you ever feel like your getting old? Do u ever wish you could just turn back time and go back to when you were five, ten, even twenty years younger? Well, believe it or not, a living organism in today’s world is capable of just that!
LucasRaurich via wikimedia
The Turritopsis nutricula, which is more commonly referred to as the ‘immortal jellyfish’ is capable of this unbelievable feat. Discovered in 1988 by a German Biologist, the Turritopsis nutricula is able to revert back to its youthful form- a polyp, after becoming sexually mature. Researchers believe that it is as a result of this extended life period, that these jellyfish are now appearing all over the world instead of being isolated to their native home of the the Caribbean.
This amazing jellyfish is able to achieve this highly coveted characteristic by carrying out a process known as Transdifferentiation, in which it converts one type of cell to another. You may have heard of different animals such as salamanders for example, re-growing limbs in a process called limited transdifferentiation. Turritopsis nutricula, however is the only known organism that can regenerate its whole body. This seemingly impossible event can be thought of as a process similar to a butterfly turning back into a caterpillar. For this reason, scientists are calling Turritopsis nutricula, biologically immortal.
Above:Video footage of the Turritopsis nutricula; Credits : ‘FactsUniverse’
On tests performed in the laboratory, the jellyfish reverted back into its youthful polyp state 100 % of the time. At this point it is ready to begin a new life- literally. Applying the same regeneration mechanisms used by this jellyfish, scientists have been able to create a healthy beating heart cell in a mouse.
- Nicolasuba via wikimedia
There seems to be endless potential for similar achievements when it comes to human beings, such as work on brain cells, heart cells, and spinal cord cells for spinal cord injuries. However, the idea of ‘immortal humans’ proves to be a highly debated and uncertain topic (as can be seen in this video), and any significant process in this field has yet to be made.
-Tabish Khan
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