Immortal Jellyfish Spreading Globally, Piquing Interest in Aging Research
A species of jellyfish, *Turritopsis dohrnii*, commonly known as the "immortal jellyfish," is spreading across the world's oceans. Originally from the Mediterranean, this tiny creature, about the size of a pinky nail, has been observed in various global waters, likely transported via the ballast water of cargo ships. What makes this jellyfish unique is its ability to reverse its aging process. When faced with stress, injury, or old age, it can undergo a process called transdifferentiation. During this process, its mature adult cells revert to an earlier, more basic cell type, and the jellyfish reorganizes itself back into its polyp (baby) form, effectively restarting its life cycle. Scientists have observed this phenomenon in laboratory settings and believe there is no inherent limit to how many times it can perform this regeneration. While it can still die from predation, disease, or severe physical injury, it does not appear to die of old age.
