On our Planet Earth, there are several living and non-living organisms, both of whom help in sustaining life. However, some of these organisms have denied the cycle of life and death, by becoming practically immortal…. (much like Percival!)
THE IMMORTAL JELLYFISH
Turritopsis dohrnii, popularly known as the “Immortal Jellyfish”, is one of the few species on Planet Earth which can halt its process of aging and death.
However, there’s a downside to this. They can be freely eaten by natural predators, who include pretty much every animal (Sharks, Sea anemones, Tuna, Swordfish, Sea turtles etc.)
But let’s focus on the positive side.
From their adult stage (where they have attained reproductive maturity), they can reset their “biological clock” to the polyp stage, thereby preventing death due to aging or some other cause.
Scientists are trying to figure out the reason behind this, which is termed “transdifferentiation”, an extremely rare characteristic. Also, they have a red belly because a glowing one has a downside. The predators will succumb to the temptations of having a meal upon noticing their ‘glowy’ stomachs. Transdifferentiation gives them the ability to reverse the medusae cells into polyp cells, thereby rendering them “biologically immortal unless it gets eaten”.
However, although they have an impressive ability, as described above, they are, unlike what we expect, pretty hard to keep alive! They are hypersensitive to their surroundings, so even a slight rise or fall in water temperatures can kill them. Well, so in theory, they’re immortal. But theory can only take them so far……
TURTLES
Aren’t you shocked! Can you believe this!
Turtles, although not immortal, can live for a very, very long time.
Their unique features allow them to achieve this great feat, some of which are noted below:-
1. Extremely efficient DNA repair mechanisms which can help them attain immunity from age-related problems.
2. Very low metabolic rates, meaning they need much less ”stuff” to stay alive
3. Shells, which are there for the purpose of protection, help them fend off pretty much every organism other than the merciless humans.
4. They age slow, which means they “need” to live longer.
The only organism which can get the better of them are humans.
FLATWORMS
Planarian worms are able to regenerate their stem cells, meaning their brain can escape aging (including other body parts as well!)
The reason behind this is that the length of their DNA’s telomere’s length can be maintained continuously. Telomere is a part of the DNA which is responsible for protecting the chromosome from external damage, as well as from the biological process of aging. If an organism’s telomere is longer, then it can prevent itself from aging. The enzyme behind this process is fittingly called telomerase.
(Also, for us, exercise can help increase telomere length!)
BACTERIA (but the radiation-resistant version)
Nicknamed Deinococcus radiodurans, this guy can die and then come back to life! Not only that, but it can survive radiation, cold, dehydration, vacuum and acid! They can live on the ISS for 3 years! They, therefore, help us clean our radioactive waste (piles of Uranium).
They look cool as well.
TARDIGRADES (I talked about them earlier!)
We aren’t even remotely close to fully UNDERSTANDING how this little critter’s life works, but we have almost PERFECTLY observed it, as if we’re their #1 fans on the planet.
They hold key to us being able to inhabit Mars (no, they’re not Elon Musk), because they can survive life on Mars. They can survive the vacuum of space, a thing which we can’t even imagine doing without getting instantly vapourised.
It does so by entering into a tun state. When in this state, they replace some of their cell contents with tryhalose, which protect them against radiations and rays.
Scientists believe that they were the ones who started life on Earth.
However, they do act as prey for some microscopic organisms as well.
They have survived ALL 5 MASS EXTINCTION EVENTS on Planet Earth
Also, besides tryhalose, a protein called DSUP (I don’t know the inspiration behind this name, maybe wassup) protects them from radiation.
Can we become like them?
