Forever Young – Scientists Reveal Secrets to Eternal Youth in a Strange Animal
Sea anemones appear to be immortal. They appear to be immune from aging, and to the negative effects that humans suffer over time. The exact reason for their eternal youthfulness is not fully understood.
The sea anemone Nematostella Vectensis’s genetic fingerprint reveals that this ancient animal phylum uses the same gene cascades to differentiate neural cells as other more complex organisms. These genes also maintain the balance of the cells within the anemone throughout its lifetime. The findings of a group of developmental scientists led by Ulrich Technau of University of Vienna were published recently in Cell Reports.
Most animal organisms consist of millions, or even billions of cells, that combine in complex ways to form specific tissues and organs. These tissues and organs contain a wide range of cell types such as neurons and glands. It is not clear how the balance between diverse cell types is achieved, how it’s regulated or if different animal cell types have a similar origin.
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Forever Young: Scientists Reveal the Secret to a Strange Animal’s Eternal Youth
