Re: What gene controls the anti-aging process in the turritopsis nutricula?

Hi Pratishtha,

I’m thinking you have an scary area here.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/183228429 gives you the latest on a mitochondrial ribosomal RNA fragment from researchers with a source of a Turritopsis sp. in Panama. I’m sure all of the major labs are jostling to look at this but the only research available on the Hydroids seems to be on Hydra itself. See:
http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?taxon=Hydra
Use the Human Ageing Genomic Resources ID (HAGRID) number for Hydra: 04109

Have a look at the genes they have investigated there, but my advice would be to look at the IB demands and come up with a similarly-satisfying thesis on ageing genes using a species that you can find, or switch to a topic that interests you equally. The IB would not appreciate you struggling with a relatively un-researched topic as it could lead to opinionated scientists being reported with unsubstantiated research! You can imagine how they would mark you for that. Let us know about any other topic which is troubling you as I feel we have let you down a little . It’s not our fault, but perhaps we can help with a related topic in genetics?

Just to help you consider what we found on the jellyfish --
Morphallaxis is the term that describes the typical Hydra’s asexual budding (which is in a way, immortality). In 2009, I believe, your related jellyfish became famous because it can be immortal. The process of special differentiation that enables it to perform a sort of back-flip on development produces the more juvenile polyp stage from the reproductive medusa. It is possible that more microscopic species will be found to turn the tables on time, but for the moment, Tn. is regarded as unique.

Just to revert to reality for a brief aside: the cancer treatment lobby have been urgently searching for this kind of breakthrough along with many others. Many organisms have asexual powers that help them to survive in certain defined circumstances. The “brainless” Hydroids here have little to stop them from this kind of biochemical control of behaviour, whereas the old adage is that the more developed (or nervously-advanced) the organism, the less able it is to regenerate tissue. So the hope that the genes of Tn can be used like many others from bacteria to stimulate a re-development of human tissues is not far-fetched. However, your thesis should ideally cover an area which has been researched in the areas I’ve looked at here. Good luck and I hope some of these ideas help you to decide what to do.

References
Carla' EC, Pagliara P, Piraino S, Boero F, Dini L. (2003) Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of Turritopsis nutricula during life cycle reversal. Tissue Cell. 35(3):213-22.