Sea Cucumbers' Sticky Butt Defense Mechanism Revealed by Genome Analysis

Sea cucumbers have a peculiar defensive strategy of firing a sticky organ out of their butts to repel or ensnare predators. A new study has found that fibrous proteins in the connective tissue of the organ, known as the Cuvierian organ, are responsible for its effectiveness. Genomic analysis revealed that the organ probably arose from respiratory tissue that specialized to become the defensive organ it is today. The study identified two key regions in the sea cucumber's genome that are responsible for this peculiar defensive strategy.