Meet The Immortal Jellyfish That Can Reverse Its Own Aging Process — A Biologist Explains
The immortal jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii, is the only known animal capable of reversing its biological aging process. When faced with stress, this small hydrozoan can revert from its adult medusa stage to a polyp stage, effectively resetting its life cycle. This remarkable ability, known as transdifferentiation, allows its differentiated cells to abandon their specialized identities and form new ones. Genetic studies have revealed that T. dohrnii possesses an abundance of genes related to DNA repair, protection, and telomere maintenance, distinguishing it from its mortal relatives. AI