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Off Topic Forums => Off Topic Forum => Topic started by: next2u on March 19, 2010, 12:31:41 am

Title: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: next2u on March 19, 2010, 12:31:41 am

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," says Dr. Maria Miglietta of the Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute.

Bryan Nelson is a regular contributor to Mother Nature Network, where a version of this post originally appeared.

**seriously, how cool is that 8)

Title: Re: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: Matty the Damned on March 19, 2010, 01:26:05 am

I thought Joan Rivers was the world's only immortal animal.

MtD

Title: Re: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: Angel-Ronnie on March 19, 2010, 01:29:06 am

ROFLOL...

Matty there are many like her what bout Joan Collins.....

WAHAHAHAHA

Title: Re: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: Matty the Damned on March 19, 2010, 01:43:35 am

Joan Collins has a face which looks like Margaret Thatcher licking piss off a nettle.

MtD

Title: Re: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: komnaes on March 19, 2010, 02:36:41 am

Joan Collins is alive??!! Isn't she some sort of living dead like a vampire that feeds on virgin (men) blood.. ;D

Title: Re: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: mecch on March 19, 2010, 08:10:59 am

British Man-o-war Medusa Joan Collins, 2010

(http://www.courierpress.com/photos/2010/feb/12/54030)

http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/213109

Title: Re: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: GSOgymrat on March 19, 2010, 09:17:06 am

Very interesting article. I'd like to learn more about that.

Title: Re: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: Rev. Moon on March 19, 2010, 09:35:28 am

They need to kill this critter's excess population and make a fabulous age-reversing moisturizer cream.

Title: Re: the world's only immortal animal
Post by: GSOgymrat on March 19, 2010, 01:46:57 pm

Wouldn't it be interesting to live to be elderly, then aged backwards to infancy, then back to elderly again. If your spouse were on the reverse schedule it would be really interesting.