Did you know that there's a species of jellyfish called the Turritopsis dohrnii, commonly known as the "immortal jellyfish"? This fascinating creature has the ability to revert back to its juvenile polyp stage after reaching maturity, essentially allowing it to bypass death from old age. Here's how it works:
When the jellyfish encounters stress or injury, it can transform its cells back into a younger state, essentially reversing its life cycle.
This process is called transdifferentiation, where one type of cell directly transforms into another type, without going through an intermediate stem-cell state.
This phenomenon has caught the attention of scientists worldwide, not only for its biological uniqueness but also for potential medical implications, like understanding cellular rejuvenation. However, despite its nickname, the jellyfish isn't truly immortal; it can still die due to predation, disease, or other external factors.