A new “immortal” jellyfish has been discovered by researchers in Bergen, Norway. This animal would be able to reverse its aging process.
Breaking the cycle of life is not a trivial thing. An animal, as small as it is exceptional, has however managed to break this rule. Already known, the “immortal” jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii) has managed to reverse its aging at the cellular level, allowing it to never experience death. But this is not the only specimen to have achieved this feat
Recently, scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway discovered its cousin, the comb jellyfish (Mnemiopsis leidyi) and added it to the coveted club of forever young.
This unexpected finding raises the question of how many more animals could reverse their aging.
Big scientific advances
Previous research suggests that comb jellyfish may have been the first animal species to appear on Earth 700 million years ago, and may indeed owe their longevity to their ability to reverse their growth and development.
This discovery is at the origin of an exceptional scientific breakthrough.
According to Joan J. Soto-Angel, co-author of the study, in a press release published by Phys.org,: “This work challenges our understanding of the development and body plans of early animals, opening new perspectives for the study of plasticity and rejuvenation of the life cycle. The fact that we have discovered a new species that uses this strange time machine raises fascinating questions about how this ability spreads across the animal tree of life.”
These discoveries would allow scientists to understand how humans could also control their own aging process.
