Immortal Jellyfish

[Blizzarded Soul]

I kid you not there are immortal jellyfish in this world, and they are being studied to find out how they do this. (full story underneath)

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/26/the-world-s-only-immortal-animal.html

I dont know how reliable this source is......but i reckon it is still pretty awesome.

(Apologies if this is old news, first ever topic)

 

[Quaxar]

It can change from adult to child form whenever it wants? Why isn't it called Link-jellyfish by now?

 

[Slipped Mind]

I feel sorry for the jellyfish.

 

[wasalp]

um...not to act like a dick but there's already a thread about this...which is quite recent.

 

[Slipped Mind]

um...not to act like a dick but there's already a thread about this...which is quite recent.

I'll call you Dicky McDickerson from now on.

 

[Sneaklemming]

So basically Jellyfish will inherit the world, unless we pollute the waters enuff.

 

[Blizzarded Soul]

um...not to act like a dick but there's already a thread about this...which is quite recent.

Yeah ok I may not have searched properly to see if this is already done :S my bad

 

[Daniel Cygnus]

Immortal Jellyfish? Sounds like some indie band.

The story is pretty cool, though. Makes you wonder what else animals are so much better than us at.

 

[Hippobatman]

I shall harnest their secret!

[sub]And I don't share.[/sub]

Well, if they start outcompeting other jellyfish species, should we do something about it, IE hinder natural selection or preserve our native species. I think that's a more interesting debate.

 

[RRilef]

So basically Jellyfish will inherit the world, unless we pollute the waters enuff.

This is what all the environmental people are fighting for. Stop helping the environment, or the world as we know it will end.

 

[Sneaklemming]

So basically Jellyfish will inherit the world, unless we pollute the waters enuff.

This is what all the environmental people are fighting for. Stop helping the environment, or the world as we know it will end.

I mean you can be a slave to the Jellyfish, or drive a big car... It's your choice really.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

If they're immortal but still reproduce, then one day there will be billions and billions of them, enough to fill the entire sea... I hope they don't sting.

 

[Logic 0]

Yes, nothing can stop my jellyfish army from takeing over the world now ha ha ha ha.

 

[Julianking93]

This was done a few days ago.

And why are people just now talking about this? I've known of this fish for almost a year now

 

[Threx]

um...not to act like a dick but there's already a thread about this...which is quite recent.

Ya it was in fact it was posted yesterday. PECULIAR!

 

[JokerCrowe]

I guess it only makes sense that the least intelligent* "animal" in the world discovers the secret to immortality.
[sub]*jellyfish are like 90% water, this will reduce your intelligence somewhat...[/sub]

 

[necrosmash]

Well, if they start outcompeting other jellyfish species, should we do something about it, IE hinder natural selection or preserve our native species. I think that's a more interesting debate.

These jellyfish reverting back to the stage they were at before they reached sexual maturity has never been observed in anything other than controlled laboratory consitions, and any one of them will more than likely die in the wild by getting killed by some other creature or by a disease before they can revert back anyway. They're not about to start out-competing other species of jellyfish.

 

[MrGFunk]

I guess it only makes sense that the least intelligent* "animal" in the world discovers the secret to immortality.
[sub]*jellyfish are like 90% water, this will reduce your intelligence somewhat...[/sub]

People on here love math puzzles. As the average human male is 60% water. What percentage 'this Jellyfish' am I?

 

[ThatsBitch3n]

Well, looks like its time for me to go back to Jellyfish hunting. They all laughed when i was out on my boat, harpoon in hand. NOW WHO'S CRAZY???!?!?

 

[Hippobatman]

Well, if they start outcompeting other jellyfish species, should we do something about it, IE hinder natural selection or preserve our native species. I think that's a more interesting debate.

These jellyfish reverting back to the stage they were at before they reached sexual maturity has never been observed in anything other than controlled laboratory consitions, and any one of them will more than likely die in the wild by getting killed by some other creature or by a disease before they can revert back anyway. They're not about to start out-competing other species of jellyfish.

I quote directly from the article:

Because they are able to bypass death, the number of individuals is spiking. They're now found in oceans around the globe rather than just in their native Caribbean waters. "We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion," says Dr. Maria Miglietta of the Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute.

Assuming the article is legit, it seems to me as their numbers are, in fact, overrunning foreign waters.

And I'm only considering the event where they'll actually outcompete native jellyfish, which might not be the case, considering climate and various factors.
So, given my situation; that the immortal jellyfish does, in fact, show incredible adaptive abilities. Should we then crunch their numbers?

My point still stands.