Turritopsis nutricula: the world's only 'immortal' creature (well, other than Vampires of course)

[The Straight Story]

Turritopsis nutricula may be the world’s only “immortal” creature.

Jellyfish usually die after propagating but Turritopsis reverts to a sexually immature stage after reaching adulthood and is capable of rejuvenating itself.

The 4-5mm diameter creature, technically known as a hydrozoan, is the only known animal that is capable of reverting to its juvenile polyp state.

Theoretically, this cycle can repeat indefinitely, rendering it potentially immortal.

Found in warm tropical waters Turritopsis is believed to be spreading across the world as ships’ ballast water is discharged in ports.

Though solitary, they are predatory creatures and mature asexually from a polyp stage.

The jellyfish and its reversal of the ageing process is now the focus of research by marine biologists and geneticists. It is thought to achieve the feat through the cell development process of transdifferentiation, in which cells transform from one type to another.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article5594539.ece

If you don't like the times, here is one more link:
http://www.zmescience.com/meet-the-worlds-only-immortal-animal

[doctor jazz]

1. Oh, crap. Now just watch some wingnut doctor implant some of this thing's DNA into Dick Cheney

:scared:

[ddeclue]

2. The lowly amoeba begs your pardon and refuses the license...

The amoeba is "immortal" because it reproduces through simple cellular division.

[The Straight Story]

3. I reproduce through sex, it is a lot more fun

:)

[ddeclue]

6. Also a lot more expensive and risky...

:rofl:

[Fumesucker]

5. You beat me to it.. n/t

[ThomWV]

4. Having reverted to the teenage state several times myself I do not see this as unusual

And there is little chance that I will live forever.

[aquart]

7. When is it coming out in pill form?

[The Straight Story]

8. I hear the makers of Viagra are working on it

If you have an erection with it lasting more than 4 years though, it could cause issues...

[tbyg52]

9. >> (well, other than Vampires of course)

You forgot about corporations....

[ddeclue]

11. Corporations die... ask Eastern Airlines...

:(

[tbyg52]

14. Well, I meant unless they run out of money and are unable to get a bailout.

Assuming they have or are fed enough money, they are immortal, @#$% it.

[The Straight Story]

12. They used to die, then became vampires and sucked out our money via bailouts

:)

[ngant17]

10. when you're looking at a microbe such as a virus, death and dormancy

are states which are difficult to establish with certainty, this is a fairly well-known phenomenon in microbiology. It's not so simple to distinguish whether microbes are actually dead or just dormant.

[Posteritatis]

13. I think hydra are amortal too

They don't revert; they just don't age.