Category: Nature > Immortality
The immortal jellyfish, scientifically known as Turritopsis dohrnii, possesses a remarkable ability that sets it apart from nearly all other jellyfish and indeed most life forms: it can revert its cells to an earlier state and essentially start its life cycle anew. When faced with stress, injury, or aging, this unique creature can transform back into its polyp stage, effectively allowing it to bypass death. This process, called transdifferentiation, involves the transformation of one type of cell into another, enabling the jellyfish to regenerate and continue its life indefinitely. This astonishing capability not only challenges our conventional understanding of aging but also raises intriguing questions about the potential for biological immortality in other organisms.