Sunday, February 15, 2009

Immortality...But at What Price?

A small species of jellyfish called turritopsis nutricula appears to be the first animal that is immortal. It is only about half a centimeter in diameter.

How does this jellyfish accomplish such a feat? After it reaches sexual maturity, it can revert to is juvenile state. The process seems to be able to repeat indefinitely.

Therefore, immortality is possible if you are willing to go through puberty repeatedly.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would believe its immortality is markedly limited if it were to become lunch for someone or something else.

SER said...

I think if you could remember what you did the first time around, it might be kind of fun!!

Huck Finn said...

HMMMMM We can be virgins again?

OrbsCorbs said...

Lol at Huck.

Puberty sucked for me, but if I retain my knowledge and memories, sure. I guess that means pimples again, huh?

OrbsCorbs said...

In reading about turritopsis nutricula (on Wikipedia - hale, your link is broken), I came across this: Hydra. Hydras are also considered "biologically immortal," but not because they revert to youth. They just don't age, and if they're injured, they regenerate whatever is damaged.

"19th century biologists reported that the Hydra was such a simple animal that it was possible to force one through gauze to separate it into individual cells; if the cells were then left to themselves, they would regroup to form a hydra again."

kkdither said...

I'd much prefer to be a Hydra and just grow new parts as needed. Puberty sucked... no confidence, no money, too many hormones, things busting out all over....

Huck, you are too funny!

Anonymous said...

You know, that could be worse than Bill Murry's Ground Hog Day.

hale-bopp said...

Link should be fixed now.