The Immortal Jellyfish - Who Says There Is No Immortality in the World?
Comment: Who says there is no immortality in the world?
[Editor's Note]: If scientists' guesses are correct, then jellyfish likely possess the secret to immortality. Unlocking this secret may help people achieve the desire for eternal life.
Tencent Science News (Passerby / compiled) If scientists are correct, then jellyfish may possess the secret to immortality. This was first proposed in an article in The New York Times Magazine, which investigated a species of jellyfish called the "immortal jellyfish." Its scientific name is Turritopsis dohrnii (sometimes called the immortal jellyfish). This tiny organism has the ability to restore its own cells to a youthful state. According to National Geographic, this jellyfish can transform into "a水滴状的胞囊 (water-drop-shaped cyst)," which then grows into a colony of polyps, which is the original stage of life.
Afterwards, the jellyfish continues a traditional life cycle, becoming mature and mating. However, this immortal jellyfish does not die; instead, it repeatedly reverts to the polyp stage. Mahong Bao, a researcher at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in New York, stated: "This ability of jellyfish to avoid death makes them biologically immortal." According to a paper published in Nature and Science, jellyfish accomplish this unique feat through "differentiation transfer." Essentially, the organism absorbs its cells and then transforms them into any other type of cell. The Daily Telegraph points out that with such advanced life techniques, it is no surprise that jellyfish are found worldwide and are called "the silent invaders of the world."
Can humans learn something from these jellyfish? It depends on who you ask. Shin Kubota says the answer is obvious; he is one of the few scientists who has successfully bred this species in a laboratory. He told The New York Times: "The immortal jellyfish is the most incredible species in the entire animal kingdom. I believe this will benefit humanity in unlocking the secret of immortality and granting humans eternal life." Others are less certain; they believe the immortal jellyfish may possess a very sophisticated method, but the possibility of humans replicating that process is extremely slim. Maria Pia Miletta, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, told National Geographic in 2009: "I don't think you will find any secrets in these organisms."
Stefano Piraino, a biologist at the University of Salento in Italy, predicts that it is more likely a compromise between the two extreme views. He explained to The New York Times: "It is difficult to foresee how much or how quickly jellyfish can help in combating disease. Furthermore, extending human lifespan is meaningless and ecologically absurd. What we can expect and study is improving the quality of life in the final stages of our lives."
[Editor's Note]: If scientists' guesses are correct, then jellyfish likely possess the secret to immortality. Unlocking this secret may help people achieve the desire for eternal life.
Tencent Science News (Passerby / compiled) If scientists are correct, then jellyfish may possess the secret to immortality. This was first proposed in an article in The New York Times Magazine, which investigated a species of jellyfish called the "immortal jellyfish." Its scientific name is Turritopsis dohrnii (sometimes called the immortal jellyfish). This tiny organism has the ability to restore its own cells to a youthful state. According to National Geographic, this jellyfish can transform into "a水滴状的胞囊 (water-drop-shaped cyst)," which then grows into a colony of polyps, which is the original stage of life.
Afterwards, the jellyfish continues a traditional life cycle, becoming mature and mating. However, this immortal jellyfish does not die; instead, it repeatedly reverts to the polyp stage. Mahong Bao, a researcher at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in New York, stated: "This ability of jellyfish to avoid death makes them biologically immortal." According to a paper published in Nature and Science, jellyfish accomplish this unique feat through "differentiation transfer." Essentially, the organism absorbs its cells and then transforms them into any other type of cell. The Daily Telegraph points out that with such advanced life techniques, it is no surprise that jellyfish are found worldwide and are called "the silent invaders of the world."
Can humans learn something from these jellyfish? It depends on who you ask. Shin Kubota says the answer is obvious; he is one of the few scientists who has successfully bred this species in a laboratory. He told The New York Times: "The immortal jellyfish is the most incredible species in the entire animal kingdom. I believe this will benefit humanity in unlocking the secret of immortality and granting humans eternal life." Others are less certain; they believe the immortal jellyfish may possess a very sophisticated method, but the possibility of humans replicating that process is extremely slim. Maria Pia Miletta, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, told National Geographic in 2009: "I don't think you will find any secrets in these organisms."
Stefano Piraino, a biologist at the University of Salento in Italy, predicts that it is more likely a compromise between the two extreme views. He explained to The New York Times: "It is difficult to foresee how much or how quickly jellyfish can help in combating disease. Furthermore, extending human lifespan is meaningless and ecologically absurd. What we can expect and study is improving the quality of life in the final stages of our lives."