THIS MAY BE HUGE.
Turritopsis dohrnii, sometimes known as the eternal jellyfish, is a
jellyfish smaller than a human fingernail that may hold the key to
immortality. For the past several decades, scientists have been working to
discover its secrets.
The journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
released fresh findings
on Monday from Spanish academics at the Universidad de Oviedo that may
assist solve that puzzle. To cut to the chase, Turritopsis rubra, a similar
but mortal cousin of the immortal jellyfish, appears to contain twice as
many copies of the genes linked to repair and protection as the immortal
jellyfish.
While other living things experience the effects of aging, the hydrozoan
Turritopsis dohrnii is the only species capable of continually rejuvenating
following sexual reproduction, becoming physiologically immortal, according
to the paper's authors. The genes involved in replication, DNA repair,
telomere maintenance, redox environment, stem cell population, and
intercellular communication have undergone variation and expansion
identification.
Hat, hard
Telomeres and DNA repair are extremely significant to the organism. When
conditions are difficult or the jelly is famished, it reabsorbs its own
tentacles and sinks to the seabed, where it transforms back into a baby
polyp and spouts forth more jellyfish that will ultimately develop into
medusae.
The jelly's telomeres guard the ends of chromosomal strands as it
reproduces, functioning as little DNA hard helmets.
Telomeres typically shorten
and become "used up" during this process, but not in Turritopsis
dohrnii.
Then Jelly
Although it's simple to be envious of the eternal jellyfish, it's also
necessary to exercise caution when making wishes. On a semantic and
philosophical level, it is still unclear how Turritopsis dohrnii modifies
its cells so quickly or if the ensuing medusae are the same creature.
The ability to replace brain cells, for example, may lead to novel
therapies for illnesses that humans haven't yet been able to cure, like
Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, according to one of the greatest explanation
films
on this unique jelly on the internet.
According to a statement from the study's author, a professor at the
Universidad de Oviedo, the group's goal is to learn how to extend human
life.
Carlos López-Otn
stated, "From this understanding we expect to develop better solutions to
the numerous aging-related disorders that plague us today.
