{"id":434238,"date":"2010-03-16T12:57:30","date_gmt":"2010-03-16T16:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/green.yahoo.com\/blog\/guest_bloggers\/26\/the-world-s-only-immortal-animal.html"},"modified":"2010-03-16T12:57:30","modified_gmt":"2010-03-16T16:57:30","slug":"the-worlds-only-immortal-animal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/434238","title":{"rendered":"The world’s only immortal animal"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n\"Turritopsis
\n
(Photo: Peter Schuchert<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/center><\/p>\n

The turritopsis nutricula<\/em>
\nspecies of jellyfish may
\nbe the only animal<\/a> in the world to have truly discovered the fountain of
\nyouth. <\/p>\n

Since it is capable of cycling
\nfrom a mature adult stage to an immature polyp stage and back again, there may
\nbe no natural limit to its life span. Scientists say the hydrozoan<\/a>
\njellyfish is the only known animal that can repeatedly turn back the hands of
\ntime and revert to its polyp state (its first stage of life). <\/p>\n

The key lies in a process
\ncalled transdifferentiation, where one type of cell is transformed into another
\ntype of cell. Some animals can undergo limited
\ntransdifferentiation and regenerate organs, such as salamanders,<\/a> which can
\nregrow limbs. Turritopsi nutricula<\/em>, on the other hand, can regenerate its
\nentire body over and over again. Researchers are studying the jellyfish to discover how it is able
\nto reverse its aging process. <\/p>\n

Because they are able to bypass
\ndeath, the number of individuals is spiking. They’re now found in oceans around
\nthe globe rather than just in their native Caribbean waters. \u00a0“We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion<\/a>,”
\nsays\u00a0Dr. Maria Miglietta of the\u00a0Smithsonian Tropical Marine
\nInstitute. <\/p>\n

Bryan Nelson is a regular contributor to Mother Nature Network<\/a>, where a version of this post<\/a>
\noriginally appeared.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

More from Mother Nature Network<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n