Research led by a group of Spanish scientists indicates that the secret to eternal life for humans, starting with the evolution of the jellyfish, may be closer to being discovered.
A team from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Oviedo in Spain is studying one of the only creatures on the planet to approach immortality: Turritopsis dohrniiknown as the immortal jellyfish.
This being has the ability to easily transition from adulthood to larval stages. While it is not impossible to kill such jellyfish through disease or predatory action, it retains the ability to reverse aging and live as long as possible.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, explores how genes work to induce rejuvenation.
According to the British Daily Star, scientists have captured an immortal jellyfish and compared it to another similar species.
They sequenced the genomes and were able to isolate the exact portion of DNA the particular jellyfish used to transform it into a very young version of itself.
“Turritopsis dohrnii “The jellyfish is the only metazoan that can regenerate itself repeatedly after reproducing, suggesting biological immortality and challenging our understanding of aging,” said the research report.
The scientists explained that DNA regeneration, telomere maintenance, stem cell population and intercellular communication, as well as replication-related gene variants and expansions have been identified.
With these efforts, the biologists found some of the creature’s DNA necessary for the aging process and discovered which parts of the jellyfish’s body were affected by it. Researchers continue to probe the potential of this cellular structure to see if it can be applied in other species and situations.
They were also able to find human-like DNA fragments, meaning that this compound could be used to help reverse aging in humans or cure diseases with an as yet unknown treatment.
source: Noticias
