"Unlocking the Regenerative Secrets of Jellyfish Tentacles"
Japanese researchers have discovered that a species of jellyfish, Cladonema, can regenerate a lost tentacle in just a few days by forming a blastema from stem-like proliferative cells that are different from the resident stem cells. These repair-specific cells contribute to the outer layer of the new tentacle and work alongside resident stem cells for rapid regeneration. The study, published in PLOS Biology, enhances the understanding of regenerative mechanisms in animals, which could potentially inform improvements in human regenerative medicine. However, the origins of these repair-specific cells are still unknown, highlighting the need for advanced genetic tools to trace and manipulate specific cell lineages in jellyfish.