“Immortal jellyfish” – Spanish scientists decoded their genetic code

The genetic code of the ‘immortal jellyfish’, a creature capable of reverting to its adolescent state, has been decoded by Spanish scientists, raising hopes of uncovering the secrets behind its longevity and its possible link to human ageing.

The relevant study, published on Monday August 29 in the journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” by a scientific team from the University of Oviedo, mapped the genome of “Turritopsis dohrnii”, the only species of jellyfish that “regresses” into its embryonic form immediately after reproduction, according to the “Reuters” agency.

The life of ‘Turritopsis’ is divided into two parts. During its non-reproductive phase, when its main mission is to survive, it lives on the bottom. When conditions are right, the jellyfish move to shallower depths to reproduce.

“We’ve known for 10 to 15 years that this species of jellyfish was capable of a little genetic trickery,” says Monty Graham, a jellyfish expert and head of the Florida Oceanographic Institution, who was not involved in the Spanish geneticists’ study. This “trick” earned Turritopsis dohrnii the nickname of the “immortal jellyfish”, a term which Graham considers somewhat exaggerated.

The study aimed to identify the reasons that make this particular jellyfish different from others. The scientists compared the genome of ‘Turritopsis dohrnii’ to that of its genetic ‘cousin’, ‘Turritopsis rubra’, which does not display the ability to regenerate after reproduction. The team found that ‘Turritopsis dohrnii’ has variations in its genome that make it more efficient at copying and ‘repairing’ DNA.

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