- Scientists have mapped the jellyfish genome turritopsis dohrnii A type that can easily fall back in evolution
- The researchers hope their discovery will give them a better understanding of how the aging process works
- After reaching adulthood, jellyfish may return to their youthful state
- You can find more of this information on the Onet homepage
in study Published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team of specialists say they hope their findings will provide clues to a greater understanding of the aging process in humans and the health conditions we face at an advanced age.
T. dohrnii, known as the immortal jellyfish, goes through the life cycle like any other type of jellyfish. At one of these stages, it sticks to the sea floor in the form of a benign tumor, resembling a stump made of tissue, and tries to survive.
Scientist Shin Kubota displays a container with several “immortal” jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii)
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Pascal Le Segretan / Getty Images / Getty Images
When conditions are right, the asexual reproduce by cloning and eventually transforms into the gelatinous form for which the jellyfish was famous.
When most jellyfish reach adulthood, they can start too sexually reproduceRelease of sperm and eggs into the water. After this stage he dies.
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More genes to protect DNA
But turritopsis dohrnii The researchers explained that it can reverse the aging process even after adulthood by returning to a tumor on the sea floor.
To discover how T. dohrnii’s immortality works, researchers compared the genome of the unique jellyfish to that of its cousin. turitopsis rubrawho grows and dies. They found that the genome T. Dohrni It has twice the number of copies of genes related to DNA protection and repair.
The team found it too The jellyfish has a unique mutation that allows it to prevent the degradation of telomeres – the protective coverings at the ends of chromosomes. In humans, telomeres tend to shorten with age.
Marine biologist Maria Pascual Turner, the study’s lead author, told The Wall Street Journal that it’s unlikely that humans will ever have the same anti-aging ability as T. dohrnii.
– It is wrong to think that we will achieve immortality comparable to this type of jellyfish, because we are not jellyfish – commented the researcher from the University of Oviedo.
Nevertheless, the results of the study can help us understand the mechanisms of aging in general, the journal comments.
Monty Graham, a jellyfish expert and director of the Florida Oceanographic Institution, said Turner’s research has no commercial value per se, according to reports. Reuters.
“But it didn’t work that we suddenly started catching jellyfish and turning them into a skin cream,” Graham comments.
author: Matthew Luo
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