We’re still unsure of the limits of the process, but theoretically, Turritopsis dohrnii (the “immortal jellyfish”) can revert back to the larval stage and start from scratch an indefinite number of times. But how? Compared to normal jellyfish, T. dohrnii has twice the amount of genes for DNA repair and protection. Aside from that, it has many mutations in genes associated with stem cell population and replication. While studying these won’t make humans immortal, these mutations may help us understand how ageing and ageing-related disease work. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
