Can Hydra Biology Inform Strategies to Extend Life in Other Species? (opens in new tab)

Some varieties of hydra are immortal, in the sense that mortality rate and measures of function do not change over time. A hydra is in essence a sophisticated bundle of stem cells, somewhat analogous to an early embryo, capable of replacing any of its component parts. Are there aspects of hydra cellular biochemistry that could be introduced into more structured, sophisticated species to extend life? One view is that hydra-like strategies for longevity are incompatible with a central nervous s...