Imagine cheating death and starting our life all over again. This is the real-life story of the Immortal Jellyfish, scientifically known as Turritopsis dohrnii. What makes this tiny sea creature so special? Is it truly immortal?
The life of a jellyfish usually starts as a tiny larva, which grows into a polyp, a small, tube-like stage. From this polyp, many new jellyfish bud off and grow into their adult form called the medusa. Most other jellyfish follow this life cycle and eventually die after some time. But the immortal jellyfish has a unique trick.
Size of a jellyfish:
When faced with stress, injury, or even the threat of old age, the immortal jellyfish doesn’t just die like other animals. Instead, it performs a kind of magic trick called transdifferentiation. This means it can transform its cells from one type to another. Picture a butterfly turning back into a caterpillar. The jellyfish’s cells change and rearrange themselves, allowing the adult medusa to turn back into its polyp stage. This new polyp can then produce many new jellyfish, starting the life cycle all over again.
Does this means the jellyfish is really immortal? In a way, it does. By continuously reverting to its younger form, it can potentially avoid death from aging. But there’s a catch. This process is triggered by stressful or damaging conditions. If a jellyfish lives in a perfect environment with no stressors, it might not need to transform and could eventually die of old age. Also, they can be eaten by predators, get diseases, or face other dangers in their environment.
What’s interesting is that this whole process is somewhat like reproduction but with a twist. Most animals reproduce by creating new life from some of their cells, while the rest of their body eventually dies off. For example, humans produce eggs or sperm that combine to create new individuals, while the parents grow old and die. The immortal jellyfish, however, uses all its cells in the process of reverting to a polyp. Essentially, its entire body transforms and contributes to creating a new generation. So, instead of a part of the body carrying on the life cycle, the whole jellyfish does. Scientific research is going on about using the genes of jellyfish to achieve immortality in human beings.
We believe we continue to live on in this world through our children and grandchildren after our death. The immortal jellyfish literally lives on through its asexually reproduced offspring. It blurs the line between reproduction and immortality.
Reference Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turritopsis_dohrnii
https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/on-exhibit-posts/the-immortal-jellyfish
https://www.bbcearth.com/news/the-jellyfish-that-never-dies