The jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii, native to the Mediterranean Sea, has been dubbed ‘the immortal jellyfish’ due to its unique ability to reverse its life cycle. When facing stress, aging, or physical damage, this jellyfish can transform its adult cells into juvenile polyps through a process called transdifferentiation, thus restarting its development. This mechanism makes T. dohrnii the only known animal capable of avoiding natural death, at least potentially. Although rare in nature, its study has sparked great interest in the scientific community to understand aging processes and possible applications in regenerative medicine. However, under normal conditions, these jellyfish can still succumb to diseases and predators, so their ‘immortality’ is theoretical. Researchers are exploring the genes and pathways that enable this cellular reversion, hoping for future advances in therapies for human diseases.
Source: BBC Science
