Turritopsis nutricula - study of biologically immortal species of jellyfish

Turritopsis nutricula is a hydrozoan that can revert to the sexually immature (polyp stage) after becoming sexually mature. It is the only known metazoan capable of reverting completely to a sexually immature, colonial stage after having reached sexual maturity as a solitary stage. It does this through the cell development process of transdifferentiation. This cycle can repeat indefinitely tha offers it biologically immortal. It is not clear if stem cells are involved in this immortality or not. Upto now, there is little academic report in the Turristopsis nutricula studies. To study the mechanism of the biological immortality of Turritopsis nutricula possibly supplies the way finding the biological immortality for human.

written by Hongbao Ma, Yan Yang, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11212, USA

Description

Diameter of Turritopsis nutricula is about 5 mm. It has an equally high and bell-shaped figure. The walls are uniformly thin. The bright red, big stomach has a cruciform shape in its cross section. Young specimens have only 8 tentacles along the edge, while adult specimens have 80-90 tentacles. Turritopsis nutricula is the first case in which a metazoan is capable of reverting completely to a sexually immature, colonial stage after having reached sexual maturity as a solitary stage (Gilbert, 2006). Jellyfish usually die after propagating but  Turritopsis nutricula reverts to a sexually immature stage after reaching adulthood and is capable of rejuvenating itself. 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 cel development process of transdifferentiation, in which cells transform from one type to another. The switching of cell roles is usually seen only when parts of an organ regenerate. However, it appears  to occur normally in the Turritopsis life cycle (Lech Mintowt-Czyz, 2009). Turritopsis nutricula, a type of jellyfish, is gaining notoriety for its uncanny and unprecedented capacity to de-evolve instead of dying. These jellyfish are the first evidenced metazoan, or multi-celled creature, to demonstrate the ability to revert back to a colonial stage after reaching sexual maturity. After sexually reproducing, most animals inevitably die. Turritopsis nutricula, however, undergo a  ransformation in which they return to a stage of sexual immaturity after reproducing, only to mature and reproduce again, then return to sexual immaturity, and so on. What does this mean? Turritopsis nutricula do not die, by nature, and are believed to have an indefinite potential lifespan. Turritopsis nutricula are about 5 mm in diameter in sexually mature stage. They have 8-24 tentacles when they are young and up to 90 tentacles as mature adults. Shaped like a bell, their external walls are transparent and their stomachs are large and have a distinctive red color.
Turritopsis nutricula rejuvenate from sexually  mature to colonial through two processes: cell transformation and cell transdifferentiation. Transdifferentiation is one cell transform into a completely different type of cell. By transdifferentiating, these cells are able to change their entire make-up, much like the much-publicized stem cells. After sexually reproducing, the jellyfish reabsorbs all of its external parts and turns into a cyst, which looks like an ameba-esque blob. The cyst then attaches to the ground and grows into a stalk-shaped polyp colony. These polyps begin a new cycle, where they form into mature jellyfish - all genetically identical. This specimen of Turritopsis nutricula vibrantly shows its majestic being, with its deep red stomach clearly showing.

Distribution, range and related species

Turritopsis nutricula are originally from the Caribbean but have spread all over the world. Turritopsis nutricula are found in temperate to tropical regions in all of the world's oceans. It is believed to be spreading across the world as ships are discharging
ballast water in ports. Since the species is immortal, the number of individuals is spiking. "We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion" said Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute scientist Dr. Maria Miglietta.

Life cycle

The fertilized eggs develop in the stomach and in the screen formed by the cave in the jellyfish planula. The eggs are then planted on the seabed in polyp colonies. The jellyfish hatches after two days.

The jellyfish becomes sexually mature after a few weeks (the exact duration depends on the ocean temperature; at 20°C it is 25-30 days and at 22°C it is 18-22 days). It 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 nutricula 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. While most members of the jellyfish family usually die after propagating, the Turritopsis nutricula has developed the unique ability to return to a polyp state (Qossay Takroori, 2009).

Biological immortality

Jellyfish usually die after propagating; however, the Turritopsis nutricula has developed the ability to return to a polyp state. This is done through a cell change in the external screen, exumbrella. In it’s life cycle, the medusa is transformed into a stolon and the polyps into a hydroid colony. The umbrella turns inside out; middle section and tentacles are reabsorbed before the polyp spawns. Stolons form two days before the polyps differentiate. The ability to reverse the life cycle is probably unique in the animal kingdom, and allows the jellyfish to bypass death, rendering the Turritopsis nutricula biologically immortal. Laboratory tests showed that 100% of specimens reverted to the polyp stage (Wikipedia, 2009). It can do this because it can alter the differentiated state of a cell, transforming it into another cell type, called transdifferentiation, and it is usually seen only when parts of an organ regenerate. However, it appears to occur normally in the Turritopsis nutricula life cycle. In this transdifferentiation process, the medusa is transformed into the stolons and polyps of a hydroid colony. First, the umbrella everts and the tentacles and mesoglea are resorbed. The everted medusa attach to the substrate by the end that had been at the opposite end of the umbrella, and spawning occurs shortly thereafter. The cnidarian then secretes a perisarc and stolons. Two days after the stolons are first seen, polyps differentiate. These polyps feed on zooplankton and soon are budding off new medusae.

The Secrets of Immortality

Turritopsis nutricula can achieve immortality by reverting back to a polyp, which is its larval stage, after become sexually mature. This cycle is called transdifferentiation, and theoretically, can be repeated indefinitely. It is the only known case of a sexually mature metazoan, which is basically an animal, changing back into a colonial, immature state. On the other hand, Hydrae become immortal by other means. These animals do not undergo senescence, or the process of aging. They have a regenerative ability that an dilute poisons by going through the process of mitosis or cell division.

Application of Turritopsis nutricula researches inimmortal life

The application of a study of the Turritopsisnutricula could be boundless, as stem-cell research appears at the forefront of many medical studies on organ reproduction, cancer treatments, and brain injury treatments to name a few. By using the cells of the jellyfish, which transdifferentiate, scientists can continue to research solutions for these problems without mucking about in the moral dilemmas that come with researching embryonic stem cells. The jellyfish’s cells are also similar in make to cancer cells, which are able to affect the order and process of genetic systems. By studying these cells, scientists may be able to gain insight in the never-ending search for a cure for cancer. These jellyfish, rumored to be plotting world-domination, are in fact spreading in droves. What some scientists now refer to as a “widespread invasion” could affect the structure and functionality of the oceanic ecosystem. It is believed that they spread when the jellyfish stow away in the ballast tanks of large ships and are carried from place to place. This is a major pathway for the global spread of “invasive” species. Native to the Caribbean, these jellyfish are now being found in waters surrounding Italy and Spain, Japan, Panama, and even Florida. It’s anyone’s guess where they end up next (Jenny Riegel, 2009). All the life in the Earth, human, animals, plants and everything grows would be dying finally? Meet Turritopsis nutricula, the only immortal jellyfish on planet earth. Its only 5 mm long and spreading around the world really fast because they don’t die. Research were done on the phylum of Cnidaria, which includes, in their common names, jellyfish, coral, sea pens, hydras, and animals of the like. This phylum contains some of the most primitive, diverse, and beautiful animals on this planet. It also has some of the strangest animals this planet has to hold. I will be presenting these eccentric animals and hope you will view them with awe and interest.
Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site
These animals are not  “immortal”, but “biologically immortal”, meaning they can still die from accidents and being killed or destroyed. No animal is perfectly immortal. Some people say that the prospect of a possibly immortal creature disproves the Qur’an, a holy Islamic text that states that no living thing is immortal. Other than these biologically immortal animals, long various multi-cellular eukaryotes (have cells with nucleus) have been known to live for a very time, here with their longest known lifespan:

Plants

• Great Basin Bristlecone Spine – 4,862 years
Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site
• Fitzroya Cupressoides – 3,622 years

• Fortingall Yew – 2,000 – 5,000 years (not verified)
Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site
• Sacred Fig – 2,293 years, if the planting date of 288 B.C. is correct
Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site

Animals

• Antarctic Sponge – 1,550 years (approx.)

• Icelandic Cyprine – 405 years

• Koi Fish – 215 years
Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site
• Bowhead Whales
Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site

Discussions

Everything in earthly existence, including human life in all of its facets, is involved in a process of ongoing change. Hence, permanence seems unattainable, and thereby especially desirable. The wish for immortality thus becomes one of the most important original reasons for the appearance of religions, and the motives of many scientific research fields can also be traced to this motive (Edmondson 2005). Life is a physical and chemical process. From ontology aspect, the world is timeless and the life exists forever as any other body in the nature. The nature of life is that life is a process of negative entropy, evolution, autopoiesis (auto-organizing), adaptation, emergence and living hierarchy. Up to now, there is no scientific evidence to show that life body and non-life body obey the same natural laws. But, all the researches are made by the methods of biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, etc. I t is very possible that the life and non-life are essential different in the biophysics, i.e. the quantum level. In the future, it is possible to make artificial life by either biological method or electronic technique (Hongbao Ma 2005b). Immortal jellyfish, like most other species of jellyfish are either male or female. They do not have a specialized reproduction system. The male releases his sperms into the column of water.

They come in contact with eggs that are present in the stomach of the female jellyfish. During the embryonic stage, they are either settled onto the mouth or the oral arms of the female. After they have passed this stage, they transform into free swimming planulae and separate themselves from the body of their mother. They float along the surface of the water for a few days and then settle on a hard, stationary object like the surface of a rock. At this stage, they become transformed into polyps. These polyps become stationary as well. They continue to feed on microscopic plankton and zooplankton at this stage. This polyp then begins to grow multiple identical polyps until it becomes a colony. This colony of multiple polyps is also stationary and attached to the hard surface at its base. All the polyps are connected with minute feeding tubes and they receive equal nourishment from their microscopic diet. The colony of polyp can remain in this stage for years at a time. When the condition is right, this colony of polyp begins to grow horizontal grooves. The groove at the top is the fastest to mature, and will soon free itself and become a free swimming jellyfish. This process of reproduction is common to most species of jellyfish. What is unique about the immortal jellyfish is that after reproducing sexually, they are able to return to their polyp stage. When most fish die after their sexual maturity, immortal jellyfish get transformed back into a polyp and restart the process of asexual reproduction. In this way, the jellyfish is able to convert itself back into a polyp, start a polyp colony again and give birth to a number of new jellyfish. How does the immortal jellyfish accomplish this feat? It is through cell development process of transdifferentiation.
Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site
What this means is that it can alter the differentiated state of the cell and transform it into a new cell. In this process of transdifferentiation, the medusa of the immortal jellyfish is transformed into the polyps of a new polyp colony. First, the umbrella reverts itself and then the tentacles and mesoglea get resorbed. The reverted medusa then attaches itself to the substrate by the end that had been at the opposite end of the umbrella and starts giving rise to new polyps to form the new colony. Theoretically, this process can go on infinitely, effectively rendering the jellyfish immortal. The immortal jellyfish is one of the most unique animals not just within the species of jellyfish, but within the entire history of the animal kingdom. It has actually managed to accomplish the one feat that has been yearned by many and accomplished by none. The genus Hydra includes 17 species. Hydras also show radial symmetry like T. Nutricula. Hydras are simple, predatory Hydrozoans that feed on minute aquatic invertebrates, such as copepods. They are sessile animals that retract into a ball if startled. They can move their location by either detaching from their substrate and floating away in the current or by sticking to the substrate with its mouth and tentacles, detaching its foot, and reattaching its foot in a new location. Repeating this, a Hydra can move a couple of inches a day. If it loses a body part, or is even totally obliterated into separate cells, it can still regenerate all of the missing body parts into a fully functional organism. This regenerative ability, which can regenerate any body part or tissue, is known as morphallaxis, a key function of the Hydra that helps to enable it biologically immortal. When there is a large bounty of food available, or a small amount of potential mates, the Hydra may undergo asexual budding. Hydrae exemplify asexual budding, in which an identical copy of the parent is replicated in an organism that will eventually separate from the parent. Asexual budding is a great survival tool for a case in which a mate cannot be found. If conditions are bleak, then Hydrae may undergo sexual reproduction. The body wall will produce testes or a rudimentary ovary Immortality has been a subject of fascination to   umanity since at least the beginning of history and has been a major point of focus of religion, as well as the subject of speculation, fantasy, and debate. Upto now, there is little academic report in the Turristopsis nutricula studies.

To study the reason of the biological immortality of Turritopsis nutricula possibly supplies the way finding the biological immortality for human. Related to human activities, there are two aspects of the world: One is the observed world (epistemology) and the other is the existed world (ontology). From the epistemology angle, time and space are relative  (observed) (Ma 2003). From the ontology angle, time and space are absolute (existed) and the universe is a timeless world, which means that all the past, the present and the future exist eternally. All the life is a kind of existence in the universe, and from this aspect the life exist eternally.