Immortal Jellyfish!!!
As Jellyfish continue to increase in numbers, biologists discover that one of the reasons for their growing populations may be the fact that some species simply don't die...While there are no current studies being conducted that look into the possibility of creating immortal cells in humans, some biologists, like Stefano Piraino of the University of Salento, are optimistic that this jellyfish might one day help rid the world of cancer and other deadly diseases.
Jellyfish are extremely prolific creatures. They can be found in all the oceans of the world and abide in habitats ranging from the shallow bays of Hawaii to the deep seas of the Marianas Trench in the Pacific Ocean. In recent years, there has been increasing contact between humans and jellyfish resulting from the rapidly rising populations of many different jellyfish species. This occurrence has prompted the progressive expansion of research into the life cycles of these fascinating sea creatures and, consequently, has led to a number of amazing discoveries.
Typical Jellyfish Life Cycle
Like other organisms, most known species of jellyfish have a very linear life cycle. According to an article written for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, jellyfish first start out as free swimming planulae, and, once detached from their mother, spend some time floating on the surface of the water before settling on a hard surface like a rock or the hull of a ship. After this, they reach the polyp stage where they remain stationary and continue feeding on microscopic organisms until a colony of identical polyps form, each receiving equal nourishment through tiny interconnected feeding tubes. Incredibly, the jellyfish can remain in this polyp stage for an indefinite period of time, sometimes waiting years or even decades for the right conditions to be present in order to move on to the next stage of development. When optimal conditions finally do arrive, the polyp colonies will begin to grow horizontal grooves that will eventually give rise to independent, free swimming jellyfish which will then grow to sexual maturity and, later, die. To see an illustration of this life cycle, click here
The Immortal Jellyfish
Originally discovered in the Mediterranean Sea, the Turritopsis dohrnii, now known as the immortal jellyfish, has a very peculiar life cycle that may help scientists like Dr Maria Miglietta of the Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute explain why some jellyfish are now, quite literally, taking over the oceans. Miglietta has learned that, unlike other species, Turritopsis dohrnii has the uncanny ability to reverse its development in times of crisis. For example, if it is in danger of starvation or has sustained a life-threatening physical injury, this particular species of jellyfish is able to transform all of its living cells into a younger, more resilient state through an astounding process called transdifferentiation. During this process, the jellyfish first turns itself into a globular cyst, then the cyst reverts back into a polyp colony. Since the polyp colony is basically the first stage of its life, the immortal jellyfish is essentially able to ‘restart’ its entire life process, creating new replicas that are free of the ailments that caused the forebear to initiate transdifferentiation in the first place.
Implications
While there are no current studies being conducted that look into the possibility of creating immortal cells in humans, some biologists, like Stefano Piraino of the University of Salento, are optimistic that this jellyfish might one day help rid the world of cancer and other deadly diseases. Their hope is rooted in the fact that, much like cancer cells, some of the cells present in Turritopsis dohrnii are able to selectively turn certain genes on or off and allow for the genetic programs that were present in earlier stages of the life cycle to be reactivated.
If researchers can gain a better understanding of these jellyfish and unlock the secret behind what enables them to undergo such a radical transformation in cellular structure and function, not only would it help preserve the endangered ocean life that is now being threatened by invading jellyfish, but it might open the door to an entirely new class of medical treatments that could one day help eliminate some of humanity's most persistent ailments.
Read more at Suite101: The Immortal Jellyfish: Turritopsis Dohrnii http://fishinsects.suite101.com/article.cfm/the-immortal-jellyfish#ixzz0jrgsEy0V