Do all living things die? Do all living things age? This particular species of jellyfish, known as the Turritopsis Nutricula seemingly never dies! This jecclyfish can regenerate itself over and over again. The process used by the jellyfish to accomplish this feat is called transdifferentiation. Transdifferentiation is the ability of one cell to change into another type of cell; the Turritopis Nutricula can do this to its entire body. Salamanders use this ability on a smaller scale when they re-grow a lost tail. In simpler words, transdifferentiation in biology takes place when a non-stem cell transforms into a different type of cell, or when an already differentiated stem cell creates cells outside its already established differentiation path.Since the Jellyfish do not die, their numbers increase without a natural death holding it back. Once native the Carribean the Turritopsis Nutricula has now spread throughout oceans across the world and it might actually upset the natural balance. The Telegraph reported that Scientist have stumbled upon “The font of eternal youth”, Dr. Maria Miglietta from the Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute chimed in the article saying, “We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion.” (Telegraph. Meanwhile, experts have already started to work the jellyfish, wondering if it could be the key to an anti-aging medicinal breakthrough. If the jellyfish’s reverse aging technique could somehow be implemented in humans there is no telling what could become medically feasible. Perhaps this jellyfish will put pharmaceutical companies out of business. Who Knows, Humans might be immortal one day :) and it certainly does go against the laws of science that states that all Living Things will die. :)
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