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A new study: Jellyfish magic – secret animal abilities
04.01.2024 08:50
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:21
Some animals can have absolutely amazing skills that humans don't.
A tiny jellyfish called Cladonema can grow back a lost tentacle in just a couple of days, like magic!
Scientists in Japan found out how this happens.
A new discovery
When the jellyfish gets hurt, special cells start growing at the injured spot.
These cells are like the jellyfish's repair team.
They're not fully developed yet but can become any type of cell needed for fixing things.
The research team learned that these repair cells are different from the jellyfish's normal stem cells.
Stem cells usually help keep the jellyfish healthy, but the repair cells only show up when there's an injury.
Together, these cells quickly build a new tentacle so the jellyfish can hunt and eat.
This discovery helps scientists understand how different animals, like salamanders, can regrow body parts.
Salamanders have their own version of repair cells, kind of like the jellyfish.
Why it's important
The scientists hope that by learning how animals regenerate, we might find ways to help our own bodies heal better.
However, there's still more to discover about these special cells and how they work their magic.
Previously, we talked about sugar gliders.
