Investigating the Regenerative Prowess of Jellyfish
Finding out how certain species can regenerate lost body parts without loss of function may offer insights into enhancing human regeneration and tissue maintenance in old age. While it’s too early to predict immediate gains, research into regenerative capabilities in species like salamanders, zebrafish, and mammalian models like MRL mice and African spiny mice is ongoing. In this study, researchers delve into the biochemistry of regeneration in a species of small jellyfish, shedding light on the mechanisms of tentacle regeneration. The findings propose a regeneration mechanism that utilizes both resident homeostatic stem cells and repair-specific proliferative cells, providing novel insight into the diversification of blastema formation across animal evolution (Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002435).
