The Immortal Jellyfish

Ever wanted to become immortal?

Well, turn into a jellyfish today!

Yup, that's right!

One particular type of jellyfish, the Turritopsis dohrnii, can convert back into the polyp stage when threatened or sick, using a process called transdifferentiation. With transdifferentiation, the jellyfish is able to transform cells into different cells—eg. a nerve cell can become a muscle cell, and a nerve cell can become a sperm cell.


Pretty cool right?

 The Turritopsis nutricula, AKA the 'Immortal jellyfish', originates in the Caribbean Sea. However, it can also catch lifts in the holds of cargo ships, transporting its species to many different oceans around   the world.

Because they are so difficult to manage, only one scientist, a Japanese biologist by the name of Shin Kubota, has managed to keep a colony in captivity for a long amount of time. His jellyfish live in petri dishes in Kubota's refrigerator, 3 in each dish. Every day he takes them out of the fridge, changes the dishes' water, and feeds the jellyfish sliced-up brine shrimp eggs. Also, when travelling, he is forced to take the jellyfish dishes with him in a portable cooler! (See here for an article on captive Turritopsis dohrnii.)


Breeding:

 Turritopsis dohrnii polyp

First, the male transfers his sperm to the mouth of the female. After being fertilised, the eggs hatch, releasing small free-swimming larvae that make their way down to the sea floor and transform into colonies of polyps. The polyps then emit tiny medusas, about 1 millimetre in size, which grow into adults as they feed on plankton and other small marine creatures.


Turritopsis application for human beings is the most wonderful dream of mankind. … Once we determine how the jellyfish rejuvenates itself, we should achieve very great things. My opinion is that we will evolve and become immortal ourselves.
        — Shin Kubota