Researchers Study Sea Creature that Could Live Forever
2022-09-15
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1Scientists in Spain have mapped the genetic code of a sea animal that is the only known creature able to go back in its life cycle.
2The research involves a kind of jellyfish.
3The researchers' goals were to try to understand the secret of the jellyfish's unusual long life and find new areas for future aging research.
4The scientists published their study recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
5Maria Pascual-Torner, Victor Quesada and others at the University of Oviedo mapped the genetic code of Turritopsis dohrnii.
6It is the only known species of jellyfish able to repeatedly change back into a larval stage after sexual reproduction.
7The scientists said that means it could be biologically immortal.
8Like other jellyfish, T. dohrnii goes through a two-part life cycle.
9It lives on the sea floor during an early part of life where its main goal is to survive during times when there is not enough food.
10Then, when conditions are right, the jellyfish enters another part of its life to reproduce sexually.
11Many kinds of jellyfish have some ability to reverse aging and go back to a larval form.
12But most lose this ability once they reach sexual maturity, the scientists wrote.
13Not so for T. dohrnii.
14Monty Graham is a jellyfish expert and director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography.
15Graham was not involved in the research.
16"We've known about this species being able to do a little evolutionary trickery for maybe 15-20 years," he said.
17In this case, trickery means an unusual behavior or manner.
18This trick earned the species the nickname, the immortal jellyfish.
19Graham admits the nickname is a little hyperbolic, meaning it overstates the truth.
20The study aimed to understand what made this jellyfish different.
21It compared the genetic code of T. dohrnii to a close genetic relative that does not have the same ability.
22Researchers found that T. dohrnii has differences in its genes that may make it better at copying and repairing DNA.
23Such differences, or variations, also appear to make the jellyfish better at taking care of the ends of chromosomes called telomeres.
24In humans and other species, telomere length has been shown to shorten with age.
25Graham said the research has no immediate financial value.
26"We can't look at it as, hey, we are going to harvest these jellyfish and turn it into a skin cream," he said.
27The research has more to do with understanding the processes that help these jellyfish live so long.
28Graham explained, "It's one of those papers that I do think will open up a door to a new line of study that's worth pursuing."
29I'm John Russell.
1Scientists in Spain have mapped the genetic code of a sea animal that is the only known creature able to go back in its life cycle. 2The research involves a kind of jellyfish. The researchers' goals were to try to understand the secret of the jellyfish's unusual long life and find new areas for future aging research. 3The scientists published their study recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Maria Pascual-Torner, Victor Quesada and others at the University of Oviedo mapped the genetic code of Turritopsis dohrnii. It is the only known species of jellyfish able to repeatedly change back into a larval stage after sexual reproduction. The scientists said that means it could be biologically immortal. 4Like other jellyfish, T. dohrnii goes through a two-part life cycle. It lives on the sea floor during an early part of life where its main goal is to survive during times when there is not enough food. Then, when conditions are right, the jellyfish enters another part of its life to reproduce sexually. 5Many kinds of jellyfish have some ability to reverse aging and go back to a larval form. But most lose this ability once they reach sexual maturity, the scientists wrote. 6Not so for T. dohrnii. 7Monty Graham is a jellyfish expert and director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography. Graham was not involved in the research. 8"We've known about this species being able to do a little evolutionary trickery for maybe 15-20 years," he said. 9In this case, trickery means an unusual behavior or manner. 10This trick earned the species the nickname, the immortal jellyfish. Graham admits the nickname is a little hyperbolic, meaning it overstates the truth. 11The study aimed to understand what made this jellyfish different. It compared the genetic code of T. dohrnii to a close genetic relative that does not have the same ability. 12Researchers found that T. dohrnii has differences in its genes that may make it better at copying and repairing DNA. Such differences, or variations, also appear to make the jellyfish better at taking care of the ends of chromosomes called telomeres. In humans and other species, telomere length has been shown to shorten with age. 13Graham said the research has no immediate financial value. 14"We can't look at it as, hey, we are going to harvest these jellyfish and turn it into a skin cream," he said. 15The research has more to do with understanding the processes that help these jellyfish live so long. 16Graham explained, "It's one of those papers that I do think will open up a door to a new line of study that's worth pursuing." 17I'm John Russell. 18Julie Steenhuysen reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 19_______________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21code - n. a set of instructions for a living organism or a computer 22life cycle -- n. the series of stages through which a living thing passes from the beginning of its life until its death 23species - n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus 24larval - adj. a very young form of an insect or other creature 25immortal - adj. not capable of dying ; living forever 26pursue -v. to make an effort to find out more about some subject or issue