Turritopsis dohrnii is now officially known as the only immortal creature. The secret to eternal life, as it turns out, is not just living a really, really long time. It’s all about maturity, or rather, the lack of it. The immortal jellyfish (as it is better known popularly) propagate and then, faced with the normal career path of dying, they opt instead to revert to a sexually immature stage.
Thus, the only known way they can die is if they get consumed by another fish or if a disease strikes the jelly. However, there are still many mysteries surrounding the Turritopsis dohrnii. While the process of reverting from its adult-phase to a polyp was observed several times, it hasn’t been observed yet in nature, only in laboratory environments.
In the Dr. Who series the Gallifreyans can regenerate into a new humanoid form at least 12 times with each one can live for thousands of years. Before that in novel form SF author (John) Keith Laumer wrote “A Trace of Memory” that had a human looking species that would act like Turritopsis revert to a younger state losing the knowledge they had gained. (They had created a means of memory recording to give continuity to their well advanced species including full mind transfer to another body if need be. This was done several years before the idea of a Time Lord regenerating was first used by the BBC in 1966.)
1962-1963 Copyright Keith Laumer.
1966 was the first regeneration replacement at the conclusion of The Tenth Planet, the First Doctor collapses from apparent old age and exhaustion, having commented earlier that his body was “wearing a bit thin”. Then, before the eyes of his companions Ben and Polly, and of the viewing audience, his features shift into that of the Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton. Who compares it to a caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.
Templo S.U.D. over 6 years ago
survival of the fittest pretty much?
wiatr over 6 years ago
But, no one gets out alive!
NoSleepTil_BKLYN over 6 years ago
It’s the, “Hunger Game”!
Teto85 Premium Member over 6 years ago
That’s right. It isn’t what happens to you, it’s how you make it through.
tcayer over 6 years ago
The secret to a long life? Don’t die!
raptor over 6 years ago
An exercise in futility -
whenlifewassimpler over 6 years ago
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 6 years ago
Life extension is possible even immortality:
Turritopsis dohrnii is now officially known as the only immortal creature. The secret to eternal life, as it turns out, is not just living a really, really long time. It’s all about maturity, or rather, the lack of it. The immortal jellyfish (as it is better known popularly) propagate and then, faced with the normal career path of dying, they opt instead to revert to a sexually immature stage.
Thus, the only known way they can die is if they get consumed by another fish or if a disease strikes the jelly. However, there are still many mysteries surrounding the Turritopsis dohrnii. While the process of reverting from its adult-phase to a polyp was observed several times, it hasn’t been observed yet in nature, only in laboratory environments.
In the Dr. Who series the Gallifreyans can regenerate into a new humanoid form at least 12 times with each one can live for thousands of years. Before that in novel form SF author (John) Keith Laumer wrote “A Trace of Memory” that had a human looking species that would act like Turritopsis revert to a younger state losing the knowledge they had gained. (They had created a means of memory recording to give continuity to their well advanced species including full mind transfer to another body if need be. This was done several years before the idea of a Time Lord regenerating was first used by the BBC in 1966.)
1962-1963 Copyright Keith Laumer.
1966 was the first regeneration replacement at the conclusion of The Tenth Planet, the First Doctor collapses from apparent old age and exhaustion, having commented earlier that his body was “wearing a bit thin”. Then, before the eyes of his companions Ben and Polly, and of the viewing audience, his features shift into that of the Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton. Who compares it to a caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.
TurbosDad over 6 years ago
“I’m not afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Woody Allen