In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers on the College of Bergen, Norway, have recognized the jellyfish (Mnemiopsis leidyi), a species of ctenophore, as a possible candidate for organic immortality.
In line with the New York Submit WorkplaceThe honeycomb jellyfish has now joined its cousin, the famend immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii), due to its newly found organic trait.
Whereas finding out these creatures, college scientists discovered a larval ctenophore in a tank that was presupposed to include a mature jellyfish.
This surprising discovery, printed within the Proceedings of the Nationwide Academy of Sciences, raises intriguing questions in regards to the skill of different animals to reverse the ageing course of.
“The work challenges our understanding of early animal improvement and physique plans, opening new avenues for finding out life cycle plasticity and rejuvenation,” examine co-author Joan J Soto-Angel stated in an announcement launched by Physics.org.
“The truth that we’ve got discovered a brand new species that makes use of this peculiar ‘time journey machine’ raises fascinating questions on how this skill is unfold throughout the tree of animal life.”
Soto-Angel and his group carried out experiments in an try and recreate the circumstances that led the jellyfish to return to its childhood, figuring out excessive stress because the set off.
Earlier analysis means that jellyfish could have been the primary animal species to look on Earth 700 million years in the past, and will in reality owe their longevity to their skill to reverse development and improvement.
“It is a very thrilling time for us,” stated Paul Burkhardt, co-author of the examine. “This fascinating discovery will open the door to many essential discoveries. It will likely be fascinating to disclose the molecular mechanism that drives reverse improvement and what occurs to the animal’s nerve community throughout this course of.”
Sooner or later, related discoveries may lead scientists to grasp how people can reap the benefits of the ageing course of.
