Sea Squirts and Starfish and Eternal Life? Oh My!

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have been studying asexually-reproducing marine organisms, such as colony-forming ascidians (sea squirts) and starfish, to try to unlock the riddle of aging. Animals that reproduce asexually by somatic cloning have special mechanisms that delay aging and provide exceptionally good health. It is useful to study these animals in order to understand mechanisms of human aging, says Helen Nilsson Skold of the University of Gothenburg. There is an enormous difference in the lengths of each organisms' life span here on Earth. Some of the organisms that reproduce asexually essentially have eternal life. For example, there are some deep-sea corals that have been around for tens of thousands of years! The team of researchers on this project have chosen to study sea squirts and starfish because their genes closely resemble that of humans. Skold says that her research "has shown that sea squirts rejuvenate themselves by activating the enzyme telomerase, and in this way extending their chromosomes and protecting their DNA. They also have the ability to discard 'junk' ... and older parts are simply broken down and recycled." In starfish, it was observed that the species that reproduced asexually had considerably better health that those that reproduced sexually. However, a consequence of asexual reproduction is that the species as a whole will have a very low genetic variation which makes them particularly vulnerable to climate change and new types of environments. "There is a high risk that these animals and plants will lose out -- and then we will lose important knowledge about the riddle of aging."

I liked this article because it reminded me of something my Bio I professor had talked about. When we were learning about DNA replication and the function of DNA telomerase, he had mentioned that researchers were looking into how to stop telomerase from cutting off the ends of DNA every time it replicates. If one could stop DNA from being cut off, we would essentially stop aging. This was also linked to a theory about how to stop cancer cells from dividing and spreading. I think it would be a great scientific feat if one day we could stop aging, but at the same time, that is messing with nature and the cycle of life. Everyone has to die sometime.

Article was found in Biology News - click here to read.