Jellyfish, fascinating creatures of the ocean, have an extraordinary ability to regenerate lost tentacles. This process has long been a mystery to scientists, as the mechanisms behind jellyfish regeneration are different from those observed in other regenerating animals.
How jellyfish regenerate solved!
Researchers have uncovered the role of blastema in the regeneration process for jellyfish, thus solving the mystery. Let’s dive into the details together.
Several animals, including starfish, salamanders and hydrozoans, have the ability to regenerate lost body parts through a repair process involving blastema.
Blastema, which resemble stem cells, play a crucial role by dividing repeatedly to rebuild body parts. While this process has been well studied in other creatures, it has been difficult to understand how it occurs in jellyfish.
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A study published in PLOS Biology reveals a crucial finding on jellyfish regeneration. Unlike other animals, where blastema typically forms at the base of the injured body part, jellyfish specifically form blastema around injury sites. This discovery is a crucial piece of the puzzle explaining how jellyfish are able to regenerate their lost tentacles.
Key insights from the study
The researchers observed that jellyfish are able to regenerate their lost tentacles in less than 24 hours and that the blastema forms soon after the injury occurs.
Interestingly, the study suggests that the regeneration process in jellyfish may not rely on recent feeding, setting it apart from some other regenerative animals.
Unanswered questions and future research
While the study illuminates blastema formation in jellyfish, the origin of the proliferating cells remains unclear. This unanswered question leaves an important aspect of jellyfish regeneration in mystery.
Until scientists unravel the source of these cells, it will not be fully understood how jellyfish regenerate lost limbs, and perhaps when it is solved, we will achieve immortality as human beings.
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