A supposedly immortal jellyfish species is said to be spreading across the world’s oceans according to scientific journals and media reports. Experts say the jellyfish numbers are increasing beyond all comprehension because the animal need not die.
The Turritopsis Nutricula is a hydrozoan and is the only known species on the planet that can revert back to a younger self. It’s able to do this through the cell development process of transdifferentiation which can be repeated indefinitely. They originate in the Caribbean but have now spread across the globe.
Dr Maria Miglietta of the Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute said: “We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion.”
Marine biologists and geneticists have frantically been studying the animal to see exactly how the Turritopsis Nutricula is able to reverse the ageing process. A special charity was established last month called “The Fountain of Youth”. One of its co-founders is the Welsh singer, Sir Tom Jones, who has donated $50 million of his own money to the cause.
Speaking in Los Angeles, the granny’s favourite pop star admitted that age was a major concern of his. Just two years ago his plastic surgeon, Günther von Hagens, told him that his features might not be able to take any more improvement operations.
Instead, Sir Tom Jones has taken to the more dynamic solution of coating his hair and beard with the 5mm long immortal – but dead jellyfish. Three of his personal bodyguards were seen trawling the waters off Barbados last week on his yacht, the “Love Boat 2″.
Sir Tom Jones said in a recent interview: “I’ve been dying my hair for years now and it’s well known I’ve spent over £30,000 a year on surgery. When I came across an article in the New Scientist about this jellyfish, I was over the moon! With a bit of luck, within 12 months, our team of researchers will have found a way of reversing the age process in humans too. In the meantime, I have decided to coat myself with thousands of the now-dead Turritopsis Nutricula in the hope that their cells will seep into my hair follicles and skin and work their magic. You never know.”
Hundreds of plastic surgeons remain sceptical however and have even called for a boycott of the charity.
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