Evolution

Who wants to live forever? On his deathbed, American writer Earl Shorris mentioned, “Modern scientists tell us how somewhere near the bottom of the order of living things, immortality reigns.” It may be hard to believe, but the holders of the secret to everlasting life are threatening to swarm the oceans of the world.

Only 4.5mm at maturity, the jellyfish Turritopsis nutricula has the ability to revert from its adult (medusa) stage to its immature (polyp) stage by a process called cell transdifferentiation. T. nutricula is the only known jellyfish with the ability to transform after it has reached sexual maturity. The transformation back into the polyp stage is used as a form of defense against starvation when resources are low. Although it has this unique ability, most jellyfish succumb to predation or disease. However, ballast water from ships has introduced this species into new areas of the world. With the ability for biological immortality, the fear of swarming immortal jellyfish could become a reality.

http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2012/12/04/29522/does-the-immortal-jellyfish-hold-the-key-to-everla/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/magazine/can-a-jellyfish-unlock-the-secret-of-immortality.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

http://eol.org/pages/1015922/overview

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/01/090130-immortal-jellyfish-swarm.html

http://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/behind-the-cover-story-nathaniel-rich-on-falling-in-love-with-a-jellyfish/