"Turritopsis nutricula is a hydrozoan (jellyfish) with a life cycle in which it reverts back to the polyp stage after becoming sexually mature. It is the only known case of a metazoan (animal) capable of reverting completely to a sexually immature, colonial stage after having reached sexual maturity as a solitary stage (Piraino et al. 1996, p. 302). It does this through the cell development process of transdifferentiation. Theoretically, this cycle can repeat indefinitely, rendering it effectively immortal."
The Immortal Jellyfish
Posted by
beccy
on Saturday, 3 May 2008
Labels:
animal,
hydrozoan,
immortal jellyfish,
marine,
turritopsis nutricula
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