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Meet the Jellyfish That Never Dies

In a process called cellular transdifferentiation, this jellyfish literally starts its life over.

By Moss & FogUpdated 1 min read
Turritopsis dohrnii, the so-called immortal jellyfish — a translucent sea creature the size of a fingernail that can reverse its own aging after reaching maturity, the only known animal to have stumbled onto a biological answer to death

The Jellyfish That Rewinds Its Life

Nature hides strange wonders, but few are as jaw dropping as a jellyfish that refuses to grow old.

Turritopsis dohrnii begins life like any ordinary jellyfish, drifting and pulsing through the sea.

© Wildestanimal | Getty

When it faces stress or the natural decline of age, it performs a biological magic trick.

Instead of dying, it reverts its cells and transforms back into its youthful polyp stage. It literally starts over.

Diagram illustrating the normal hydroid life cycle and the alternate life cycle of Turritopsis dohrnii, showing stages from gametes to medusa and the process of cellular metamorphosis and redifferentiation.
Image via The Real Immortal Jellyfish. Science Illustrator: Meghan Rocktopus

Scientists call this shape shifting “cellular transdifferentiation,” a process that lets the animal switch cell types and rebuild itself from the ground up.

🪼 Why Die?

This type of evolution feels magical, and borderline impossible, yet nature yet again surprises us.

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With our world obsessed with newness and reinvention, this tiny jellyfish shows us how rebirth can really occur.

Even simple, tiny life can be circular, creative, and surprisingly resilient.

A vibrant jellyfish with a round, translucent body and long, flowing tentacles is gracefully swimming in deep water against a dark background.

“Instead of dying, it reverts its cells and transforms back into its youthful polyp stage. It literally starts over.”

Images via BBC, Wikipedia, The Real Immortal Jellyfish.


For more amazing natural wonders, check out this epic battle between a heron and a snake.

By Moss & Fog Staff

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