The jellyfish species Cladonema can regenerate a missing tentacle in two to three days through the formation of a blastema, a clump of undifferentiated cells. These stem-like proliferative cells (SLPCs) appear during the injury and contribute to the formation and regeneration of the tentacle’s epithelial layer. The resident stem cells in or near the tentacle are responsible for maintaining and repairing the cells needed during the jellyfish’s lifetime. Further research about blastema formation among different animal groups may provide insight from an evolutionary perspective. This research serves to understand blastema formation mechanisms in regenerative animals, potentially improving human regenerative abilities. This study is supported by Japan’s scientific organizations and has been published in PLOS Biology.
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Study identifies two stem cell types driving jellyfish tentacle growth
