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#1
Jul 7 2009 05:14pm
Say hello to Turritopsis Nutricula. Chances are, this individual little jellyfish might have been around before you were born and could be around centuries after you and I are dead.

Scientists have discovered the amazing fact that once this barely visible animal mates after becoming sexually mature, it reverts back to a younger state through a process called transdifferentiation. In layman's terms, the jellyfish matures, reproduces, and then grows younger in a process that scientists think can happen indefinitely meaning that the Turritopsis Nutricula is basically an immortal creature that never grows old and, barring disease or being eaten, will never die.

Scientists and geneticists are busy studying this tiny animal to determine more about how it lives and lives and lives.


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#2
Jul 7 2009 05:21pm
Quote (penguinhero @ Tue, Jul 7 2009, 07:14pm)
Say hello to Turritopsis Nutricula.  Chances are, this individual little jellyfish might have been around before you were born and could be around centuries after you and I are dead.

Scientists have discovered the amazing fact that once this barely visible animal mates after becoming sexually mature, it reverts back to a younger state through a process called transdifferentiation.  In layman's terms, the jellyfish matures, reproduces, and then grows younger in a process that scientists think can happen indefinitely meaning that the Turritopsis Nutricula is basically an immortal creature that never grows old and, barring disease or being eaten, will never die.

Scientists and geneticists are busy studying this tiny animal to determine more about how it lives and lives and lives.


http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/curiosities/images/immort2.jpg


Wouldn't work with us. We have complex thoughts that when we go back to a child, would be lost. Because human brain does not fully develop before 25 years old.
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#3
Jul 8 2009 10:08am
Thats awesome
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#4
Jul 8 2009 11:26am
Quote (evilnemesis @ Tue, Jul 7 2009, 07:21pm)
Wouldn't work with us. We have complex thoughts that when we go back to a child, would be lost. Because human brain does not fully develop before 25 years old.


Also know that Jellyfish have no brain only a nervous system. That's why it's possible.

This post was edited by evilnemesis on Jul 8 2009 11:27am
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#5
Jul 8 2009 12:10pm
It's cause Jellyfish are magical... Somewhat like Unicorns and the infamous Snipe...
Beware the IMMORTAL JELLYFISH!
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#6
Jul 10 2009 11:57pm
thats like saying a protein is immortal... need something a bit more complex and i'll be wowed
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#7
Jul 11 2009 07:41am
Lol. What if scientists investigate and end up finding the secret to Immortality
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#8
Jul 11 2009 12:49pm
Quote (evilnemesis @ Tue, Jul 7 2009, 11:21pm)
Wouldn't work with us. We have complex thoughts that when we go back to a child, would be lost. Because human brain does not fully develop before 25 years old.


Qft.

On topic: that's pretty cool though I doubt that these live forever.

This post was edited by AEtheric on Jul 11 2009 12:55pm
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#9
Jul 11 2009 02:52pm
Quote (AEtheric @ Sat, Jul 11 2009, 02:49pm)
Qft.

On topic: that's pretty cool though I doubt that these live forever.


Disease is a factor as shown in the text of OP.
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#10
Jul 13 2009 01:22pm
However, if scientists could study the changing of cells into younger forms... this could increase the ability to make stem cells rather than stealing them from fetus'.... also these animals must be able to regenerate there telemere's or else the DNA wouldn't last long enough and the animal would age and die. This would mean that study of these animal's could lead to a reduction in aging.
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