Loved that book but don't remember enough of it to know if anyone ever thought to compensate Henrietta's descendants for the use of her cells. I would be more of a jelly fish fan if they weren't such stingy little things.
Wow, I hadn't heard of this jellyfish or Henrietta before, great read! If, in theory, jellyfish can live forever do you know how long the average jellyfish does live then? Even if they can theoretically live infinitely, there has to be a general lifespan. At least one would think...
That's a very good question! During my research, it seemed as though the vast majority die because of predators or environment, but that doesn't mean they haven't already lived like 100 years first. I can't figure out an easy answer to this one either, and it may just be that biologists don't have a good sense.
I agree, although it's technically called "biological immortality." Address all angry letters to biologists, who seem to be just as bad as physicists or jiu jitsu practitioners at naming things.
I had heard that there was a jellyfish that lived eternally. I'm so glad to know more about exactly what that meant! I was researching this during a heartbreak, looking for some poetic material about everlasting things. Very tragically wishing for a jellyfish love instead of a tiger love, a crocodile love, or the rest of these too mortal forms. I also wanted to know why my dog didn't get to live as long as I did. Again, WTF with the broken heart. I still didn't quite understand the difference in lifespan between animals. In my research I didn't find an explanation. Perhaps you have written another entry about this?
Interestingly enough, I was writing a fake commercial for the rock opera THIS VERY MOMENT about Henrietta Lacks. Or rather a fake tv movie about her.
As you may remember from past discussion a long time ago, I have no interest in immortality— though long run before death would be nice. The idea that I could wipe the physiological state clean is tempting though even if it means going back through infancy. I dunno, I’d have to think about it.
Anyway, the idea that P53 (a gene that myself and a VERY LARGE MAJORITY of cancer patients have), has the ability to live forever despite my wishes, is somehow quite on brand for cancer. And certainly in my case, a correct example of irony. 🤣
"This jellyfish does a pretty neat trick, to wildly understate the case."
I was so sure you'd be telling us about the way they poop. I really had my hopes up.
But I guess "reverting back to an earlier life stage" is kind of neat, too.
Not "weird poop" neat, but still neat.
IMO, jellyfish poop is just so milquetoast.
It sure ain't no cow poop. Those guys really know how to bring it!
Or wombat poop. Amirite?
I dunno man. I think wombats are too much of a square.
Oh, Dadiel.
The dadiest.
Loved that book but don't remember enough of it to know if anyone ever thought to compensate Henrietta's descendants for the use of her cells. I would be more of a jelly fish fan if they weren't such stingy little things.
Joyce, this is interesting because it was left hanging in the book, but time has given us something of a resolution: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/family-of-henrietta-lacks-whose-cells-were-taken-for-medical-advancement-settles-with-company-that-profited
Wikipedia lists a long list of honors and award so I hope that with the resolution, the family has benefitted.
Wow, I hadn't heard of this jellyfish or Henrietta before, great read! If, in theory, jellyfish can live forever do you know how long the average jellyfish does live then? Even if they can theoretically live infinitely, there has to be a general lifespan. At least one would think...
That's a very good question! During my research, it seemed as though the vast majority die because of predators or environment, but that doesn't mean they haven't already lived like 100 years first. I can't figure out an easy answer to this one either, and it may just be that biologists don't have a good sense.
Fair point! Appreciate the response. Jellyfish are such bizarre creatures and make a good candidate for the most seemingly-alien life on Earth.
They really do look like they could be aliens.
I don't think what the jellyfish does is immortality, exactly. It's rebirth. If you think about it, that's even more amazing!
I agree, although it's technically called "biological immortality." Address all angry letters to biologists, who seem to be just as bad as physicists or jiu jitsu practitioners at naming things.
I had heard that there was a jellyfish that lived eternally. I'm so glad to know more about exactly what that meant! I was researching this during a heartbreak, looking for some poetic material about everlasting things. Very tragically wishing for a jellyfish love instead of a tiger love, a crocodile love, or the rest of these too mortal forms. I also wanted to know why my dog didn't get to live as long as I did. Again, WTF with the broken heart. I still didn't quite understand the difference in lifespan between animals. In my research I didn't find an explanation. Perhaps you have written another entry about this?
Heather, you know me too well:
https://goatfury.substack.com/p/a-billion-heartbeats
Interestingly enough, I was writing a fake commercial for the rock opera THIS VERY MOMENT about Henrietta Lacks. Or rather a fake tv movie about her.
As you may remember from past discussion a long time ago, I have no interest in immortality— though long run before death would be nice. The idea that I could wipe the physiological state clean is tempting though even if it means going back through infancy. I dunno, I’d have to think about it.
Anyway, the idea that P53 (a gene that myself and a VERY LARGE MAJORITY of cancer patients have), has the ability to live forever despite my wishes, is somehow quite on brand for cancer. And certainly in my case, a correct example of irony. 🤣
Is this like a "careful what you wish for" cautionary tale?
Also: that's a pretty rad coincidence!