Turritopsis nutricula ( the key for human to become immortal)

Could the reversion of Turritopsis nutricula be applied to medical restoration?

Yes. It is possible that once we understand the biogenetic or molecular basis ofTRANSDIFFERENTIATION, which is the process by which this jellyfish rejuvenates, we might be able to apply that knowledge to various forms of medical restoration, at least in veterinary medicine.

Eventually, we may be able to utilize information about transdifferentiation, from various sources in addition to Turritopsis nutricula, to enable aging humans to have what amounts to a youthful elixir. One possible outcome would be the ability of people to retain all of their life memories while regenerating as children, thus possibly achieving immortality.

Turritopsis nutricula, a jellyfish, after becoming a sexually mature adult, can transform itself back into a child (the polyp stage) using the cell conversion process of transdifferentiation. Turritopsis nutricula repeats this cycle, meaning that it may have an indefinite lifespan.

Turritopsis nutricula is a hydrozoan with a life cycle in which it reverts to the polyp stage after becoming sexually mature. It is the only known case of a 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. Theoretically, this cycle can repeat indefinitely, rendering it biologically immortal until its nerve center is removed from the rest of the body.

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). The cells revert to a different state. The medusa is transformed into a stolon and the polyps into a hydroid colony. The umbrella turns inside out; middle section and tentacles are resorbed 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. Lab tests showed that 100% of specimens reverted to the polyp stage.

COULD WE LIVE FOREVER?

Some authors predict that the human race could eventually live forever - using either high technology or improvements in medicine. 

British 'gerontologist' Aubrey de Grey predicted in 2,0008 that the first child to live to 1,000 would 'already have been born'. He focuses on approaches that 'defeat' ageing in the body

American author Ray Kurzweil predicts that a huge expansion in machine intelligence - 'the Singularity' - will lead to a moment when human minds can be 'downloaded' into machines and thus 'live' forever. 

He wrote a book entitled, 'The Singularity is Near' in 2005, and follows a strict health regime in the hope that he will live to see his prediction of 'mind uploading' come true in 2030.

The 'immortal' jellyfish, Turritopsis Nutricula, can 'return' itself to youth and in theory live forever. But immortality may actually be a genetic disadvantage

'A species that grows old can drive immortal competitors to extinction,' writes Martins. 'This counter-intuitive result arises from the pruning caused by the death of elder individuals. When there is change and mutation, each generation is slightly better adapted to the new conditions.' 

COULD WE LIVE FOREVER?

Some authors predict that the human race could eventually live forever - using either high technology or improvements in medicine. 

British 'gerontologist' Aubrey de Grey predicted in 2,0008 that the first child to live to 1,000 would 'already have been born'. He focuses on approaches that 'defeat' ageing in the body

American author Ray Kurzweil predicts that a huge expansion in machine intelligence - 'the Singularity' - will lead to a moment when human minds can be 'downloaded' into machines and thus 'live' forever. 

He wrote a book entitled, 'The Singularity is Near' in 2005, and follows a strict health regime in the hope that he will live to see his prediction of 'mind uploading' come true in 2030.

If human beings were ever to become immortal - as predicted by 'futurologists' such as Ray Kurzweil - we could eventually be exterminated by rival species who had the 'advantage' of growing old and dying.

Martins' computer models behaved very differently according to tiny tweaks in the software - initially, the 'immortal' species (who only died when 'killed' or in accidents) had an advantage.

But as more random elements were introduced - such as mutations - the populations that 'pruned' itself through ageing had an advantage.

'What we see is that there is a clear advantage for the ageing species to adapt faster - and this adaptability somehow compensates part of the detrimental effect of death.'

Martins's simulation, though detailed, isn't as complex as a real world - and change is 'faster' in the model. He says, 'Additional exploration is needed,' but suggests that in a world ruled by chance, an ageing species 'can have an advantage to compensate for the deaths by old age, and in the long run, drive rival non-ageing species to extinction.'

'This helps to explain the paradox of why we age. And it illustrates how we still don't understand all consequences of change and random chance in a system as complex as the natural world.' 

For humans, though, factors such as technological change and learning might be decisive, rather than mutation and fitness.

Appleyard, too, proposes that things in the real world would be different: 'I suspect the real disadvantage immortals would have would be that they were bored out of their minds - one good reason to die is that most people get sick of being themselves.'