CHICAGO, Aug. 29 (Reuters) - Spanish scientists have unlocked the genetic code of immortal jellyfish — a creature that repeatedly returns to its juvenile state — in hopes of uncovering the secrets of their unique longevity and uncovering new clues about human aging.
In a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Maria Pascual-Torner, Victor Quesada and colleagues at the University of Oviedo plotted the genetic sequence of Turritopsis dohrnii, the only known species capable of repeating recovery. Larval stage after sexual reproduction.
Like other types of jellyfish, T. dohrnii went through a two-part life cycle, living on the ocean floor during the asexual phase, whose main role was to sustain life during periods of food shortage. When the conditions are right, jellyfish reproduce sexually.
The authors write that while many types of jellyfish have some ability to reverse aging and restore the larval stage, most lose this ability once they reach sexual maturity. This is not the case with T. dohrnii.
"We already know that this species is capable of some evolutionary trickery in 15 to 20 years," said Monty Graham, a jellyfish expert and director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography, who was not involved in the study.
The trick earned the species the nickname immortal jellyfish, a word Graham acknowledges is a bit of an exaggeration.
The study aimed to understand the differences between this jellyfish by comparing the gene sequences of T. dohrnii with those of Turritopsis rubra, a close relative who lacks the ability to rejuvenate after sexual reproduction.
They found that T. dohrnii had variants in its genome that might make it better at replicating and repairing DNA. They also seem to be better at maintaining the ends of chromosomes called telomeres. In humans and other species, telomere length has been shown to shorten with age.
Graham said the study has no immediate commercial value.
"We can't think of it as, hey, we're going to harvest these jellyfish and turn them into skin creams," he said.
It has more to do with understanding the processes and protein functions that help these jellyfish trick death.
"This is one of the papers that I think will open the door to new research directions that are worth pursuing."