Things I didn't know about jellyfish

A group of jellyfish is called a "smack."

The scientific name for a jellyfish is "medusa."

Jellyfish have no heart, brain, bones or eyes. Also no nose, no ears, no pancreas, no liver.

Some scientistist (like the folks at Quincy Bioscience) think that a calcium-binding protein derived from jellyfish can produce anti-aging activity on brain cells. Their mascot is "Joey the Jellyfish."

In 1999, scientists in Hawai'i indulged in a little "Honolulu transgenesis" and produced green mice, thanks to the introduction of a jellyfish gene into the mouse hosts.

You can see live shots of beautiful moon jellies here: http://www.aquarium.org/jellies/jellycam.htm

The longest animal on earth is the Lion Mane Jellyfish, which can reach lengths of more than 100 feet.



I thought I was feeling a bit like a jellyfish today--the thought entered my mind--but now that I know a little more about the subject, I realize that I was really feeling more like shit than like a jellyfish.