The world's only immortal animal......... a jellyfish?!

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/26/the-world-s-only-immortal-animal.html

"The turritopsis nutricula species of jellyfish may be the only animal in the world to have truly discovered the fountain of youth.

Since it is capable of cycling from a mature adult stage to an immature polyp stage and back again, there may be no natural limit to its life span. Scientists say the hydrozoan jellyfish is the only known animal that can repeatedly turn back the hands of time and revert to its polyp state (its first stage of life).

The key lies in a process called transdifferentiation, where one type of cell is transformed into another type of cell. Some animals can undergo limited transdifferentiation and regenerate organs, such as salamanders, which can regrow limbs. Turritopsi nutricula, on the other hand, can regenerate its entire body over and over again. Researchers are studying the jellyfish to discover how it is able to reverse its aging process.

Because they are able to bypass death, the number of individuals is spiking. They're now found in oceans around the globe rather than just in their native Caribbean waters. "We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion," saysDr. Maria Miglietta of theSmithsonian Tropical Marine Institute."

-Bryan Nelson, Mother Nature Network

thoughts?

Greaaaat, I can see a movie about killer jellyfish on the horizon.

if humans could do that now.....

Was posted yesterday ... lock it up boys

Yay I told people jelllyfish were cool.

This one wishes to spread word of the enkindlers :)

This one wishes to spread word of the enkindlers :)

Syaz1

*shudders*

Apparently threads about this Jellyfish are immortal, too.

what's a jellyfish favorite song? I'm thinking immortal by adema.

*shudders*

A few DNA manipulations... voila, an immortal jellyfish man.

There's also one called a "hydra" which is presumed immortal, also a jellyfish. So there are actually two.

There was already a thread on this.

how would you like if this came on to your shore?

Figured it would be some kind of turtle or something.

I can imagine some scientists trying to harness this type of cell, it'll probably happen.

So the jellyfish are preparing to take over the world? And I thought zombies were all we had to worry about.

did you know a jelly fish has to be kept in a circular tank cos it would get stuff in the corners of a rectangle one lol

So the jellyfish are preparing to take over the world? And I thought zombies were all we had to worry about.

Pierst179

Arn't these jellies like 1-2 mm? And what about zombie Jellyfish? Now that is truly frightening.

This is the 3rd time you posted this! I mean it's an interesting subject, but really...LiftedHeadshot

I believe scientists and researchers going to manipulate these cells so they can work on human body

Ah, I saw this yesterday. Quite amazing! Hopefully some idiotic scientist doesn't tried and make a some sort of immortality vaccine from it's cells....