It was discovered in 1883 but only gained its name in the early 1990’s when something remarkable happened after it appeared to die. The immortal jellyfish are a tiny species only reaching a size of around 4-5mm but can be vibrantly colourful. However for a few species this is not the end but instead a chance for a fresh start. The adult jellyfish will then reproduce to create more tiny larvae and eventually die thus completing their lifecycle. After a while when the conditions are right the polyp undergoes budding where part of the polyp divides itself from the structure and becomes a tiny free swimming medusa that eventually grows into a fully grown jellyfish. In its polyp stage the jellyfish strongly resembles a sea anemone with its body anchored on the ground with tiny tentacles floating overhead. When it has settled the larvae then morphs into a polyp, the second stage of the jellyfish life cycle. During this time the planktonic larvae will float aimlessly in the water column until it finds a rock or other suitable surface to settle on. A jellyfish begins life as a tiny larvae that looks more like a furry tic-tac than an ocean dweller. But it is actually the third and final stage in their life cycle. The popular image that comes to mind when you think of a jellyfish, a translucent bell-shaped body with tentacles sprawled out beneath it, is what is known as a medusa. This incredible evolutionary adaptation is not only extremely interesting but could hold the key to countless medical advancements and maybe even the secret to everlasting life, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up anytime soon. In times of crisis these gelatinous blobs can revert to their juvenile state and begin again like a butterfly changing back into a caterpillar. The immortal jellyfish ( Turritopsis dohrnii) is one of several remarkable jellies that can cheat death by reversing their own life cycle. But while we’ve been unsuccessfully searching an unlikely candidate has been floating around the ocean right under our noses. Over time we have sought immortality in a number of ways including religion, medicine, cryogenics and, in the case of Indianna Jones, by searching for magical artefacts such as the Holy Grail. The concept of eternal life has captured human imaginations for centuries and for some it is the ultimate goal to be able to cheat death. The immortal jellyfish ( Turritopsis dohrnii) Meet the jellyfish that can cheat death by regenerating its body and starting all over again.
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