Immortal Jellyfish and Its Unique Characteristics
Immortal Jellyfish In the history of alchemy, the only way to achieve immortality is to drink the elixir of life, or to create the legendary philosopher’s stone. For centuries, many alchemists searched but failed to find the secrets to immortality. But, surprisingly, one organism already obtains immortality without the elixir of life or the philosopher’s stone. Turritopsis nutricula, otherwise known as the immortal jellyfish, is a type of jellyfish that can revert back to a younger stage after it is sexually mature.
The immortal jellyfish are tiny creatures that live in extremely large colonies. They are approximately four or five millimeters tall and wide. Younger immortal jellyfish have eight tentacles, while adults have about 90 tentacles (Immortal Jellyfish Facts). Turritopsis nutricula are easy to recognize because they have a transparent body with a visible bright red stomach in their bell. Like any other small size jellyfish, their main diets are planktons and other microscopic organisms. Normal jellyfish’s life span is about a few hours to a few months, and in some rare cases, a few years. They often die right after they reproduce. But the immortal jellyfish, on the other hand, can avoid death by reverting itself back to the polyp stage after it is sexually mature (Masters). This process is an example of transdifferentiation, which is the ability that allows one type of specialized cell to transform into other type of cell. As far as scientists know, no other organism has this ability (scishow). Transdifferentiation can only occur in emergencies such as when the jellyfish is sick or injured. The process begins when the bell of the jellyfish collapses in on itself and forms a blob of cells. Eventually, it will land somewhere and the blob of cells will reconfigure into completely different cells. For example, a muscle cell can turn into a nerve cell. Then, the blob will form a jellyfish polyp. After a while, the polyp will produce many identical
The immortal jellyfish are tiny creatures that live in extremely large colonies. They are approximately four or five millimeters tall and wide. Younger immortal jellyfish have eight tentacles, while adults have about 90 tentacles (Immortal Jellyfish Facts). Turritopsis nutricula are easy to recognize because they have a transparent body with a visible bright red stomach in their bell. Like any other small size jellyfish, their main diets are planktons and other microscopic organisms. Normal jellyfish’s life span is about a few hours to a few months, and in some rare cases, a few years. They often die right after they reproduce. But the immortal jellyfish, on the other hand, can avoid death by reverting itself back to the polyp stage after it is sexually mature (Masters). This process is an example of transdifferentiation, which is the ability that allows one type of specialized cell to transform into other type of cell. As far as scientists know, no other organism has this ability (scishow). Transdifferentiation can only occur in emergencies such as when the jellyfish is sick or injured. The process begins when the bell of the jellyfish collapses in on itself and forms a blob of cells. Eventually, it will land somewhere and the blob of cells will reconfigure into completely different cells. For example, a muscle cell can turn into a nerve cell. Then, the blob will form a jellyfish polyp. After a while, the polyp will produce many identical
Cited: Goldenberg, D and Vence, E. 10 Technologies We Stole From the Animal Kingdom. Mental_floss. Sept 5, 2009. Retrieved from http://mentalfloss.com/article/22702/10-technologies-we-stole-animal-kingdom Accessed August 10, 2013 n.a. Immortal Jellyfish Facts: Common Questions. Immortal Jellyfish – Biological Deathless Creature. n.d. http://www.immortal-jellyfish.com/immortal-jellyfish-facts.html. Accessed August 8, 2013. Jet. Fountain of Youth: The Immortal Jellyfish Span Oceans. GreenAnswers. Aug, 15, 2011. Retrieved from http://greenanswers.com/256467/fountain-youth-immortal-jellyfish-spans-oceans/ Accessed August 10, 2013 Klappenbach, L n.a. Life of Immortal Jellyfish. Life of Sea. July 27, 2011. Retrieved from http://life-sea.blogspot.ca/2011/07/life-of-immortal-jellyfish.html. Accessed August 8, 2013. Masters, M. Can Turritopsis Nutricula Live Forever? Pawnation.com. n.d. Retrieved from http://animals.pawnation.com/can-turritopsis-nutricula-live-forever-3728.html. Accessed August 8, 2013. Monks, K Than, K. Can “Immortal” Jellyfish Swarm World’s Oceans? National Geographic. January 9, 2009. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/01/090130-immortal-jellyfish-swarm_2.html. Accessed August 9, 2013.