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Pre-listening vocabulary

• immortality: the ability to live forever
• phenomenon: a natural process, especially a strange or unusual one
• species: a type of plant or animal
• reproduce: to create new cells
• DNA: chemicals that contain instructions for life
• reverse: to make something go backwards
• extend: to make something longer

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

Biological immortality is a very rare phenomenon. Most species go through a called senescence, which means the cells in their bodies stop reproducing over time. As these species get older, and death become much more likely. However, a few rare species do not experience senescence at all. Lobsters are one animal that does not age typically. They can their own DNA using a chemical called telomerase. Tortoises also appear to delay senescence. A species called the “immortal jellyfish” is the only animal believed to be truly biologically immortal. These jellyfish can still , but not of old age. This is because they have the ability to reverse their aging process entirely. Scientists study these slow-aging species in case their cells can help extend human .

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. The process called “senescence” is when
   a. an animal’s cells stop reproducing
   b. an animal lives forever
   c. an animal reverses its life cycle
   
2. The only animal considered biologically immortal is
   a. the “immortal tortoise”
   b. the “immortal lobster”
   c. the “immortal jellyfish”
   
3. Scientists study slow-aging animals in case their cells can
   a. reveal information about the past
   b. help extend human lives
   c. bring extinct species back to life

Discussion/essay questions

1. Do you think it is possible for humans to reach biological immortality? Do you think it is a good idea? Why or why not?

Transcript

Biological immortality is a very rare phenomenon. Most species go through a process called senescence, which means the cells in their bodies stop reproducing over time. As these species get older, disease and death become much more likely. However, a few rare species do not experience senescence at all. Lobsters are one animal that does not age typically. They can repair their own DNA using a chemical called telomerase. Tortoises also appear to delay senescence. A species called the “immortal jellyfish” is the only animal believed to be truly biologically immortal. These jellyfish can still die, but not of old age. This is because they have the ability to reverse their aging process entirely. Scientists study these slow-aging species in case their cells can help extend human lives.

Answers to comprehension questions

1a 2c 3b