Immoortal
The immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii) is a species of jellyfish that is capable of reverting back to a polyp stage after reaching sexual maturity. This process, known as transdifferentiation, allows the jellyfish to bypass death and reproduce indefinitely.
The immortal jellyfish was first discovered in the Mediterranean Sea in 1883 by Italian biologist Antonio D’Orchymont. However, it was not until the 1990s that researchers began to study the species in detail. In 1995, Japanese scientists Hiroshi Nishimoto and Shigeo Hayashi published a study documenting the process of transdifferentiation in the immortal jellyfish.
Since its discovery, the immortal jellyfish has become a popular subject of research, with scientists studying its potential implications for human aging and disease. In a 2006 study, scientists from the University of Tsukuba in Japan found that the immortal jellyfish has a genome that is significantly smaller than other jellyfish species. This suggests that the immortal jellyfish may be less complex and more resilient to environmental stressors.
The immortal jellyfish is not the only species capable of transdifferentiation. In 2008, scientists from the University of Maryland discovered that the freshwater polyp Hydra can also revert back to a polyp stage after reaching sexual maturity. However, the immortal jellyfish is the only species known to be capable of reproducing indefinitely.
The immortal jellyfish is found in temperate and tropical waters around the world. It typically inhabits coastal areas and can be found in both marine and freshwater environments. The species can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter.
The immortal jellyfish is a carnivore and feeds on small marine organisms such as plankton and crustaceans. It also preys on other jellyfish species.
The immortal jellyfish is a hermaphrodite and can self-fertilize or cross-fertilize with other members of the species. After fertilization, the eggs develop into free-swimming planula larvae. These larvae eventually settle on the ocean floor and develop into polyps. The polyps then reproduce asexually, forming new jellyfish.
The immortal jellyfish is one of the few species of jellyfish that can be kept in captivity. In 2006, a team of Japanese scientists managed to keep a colony of immortal jellyfish alive in a laboratory for over a year.
The immortal jellyfish has generated a great deal of interest among scientists and the general public. Its ability to bypass death and reproduce indefinitely has raised the possibility of using the species as a model for aging and disease. The species’ small genome also suggests that it may be less complex and more resilient to environmental stressors than other jellyfish species.
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