Comb Jellies Exhibit Unique Ability to Merge Bodies After Injury

Scientists discover that comb jellies can fuse their bodies and systems to survive, revealing new insights into regenerative biology.

Comb jellies, or ctenophores, can merge their bodies, including nervous and digestive systems, when injured.
The discovery was made when researchers observed unusually large jellies in a lab tank, which were found to be fused individuals.
Experiments showed that 90% of injured jellies placed together merged overnight, reacting as a single organism to stimuli.
The fusion process allows for synchronized muscle contractions and shared digestive functions, with alternating use of multiple anuses.
This ability may provide insights into regenerative medicine, as comb jellies lack the allorecognition system that prevents such fusion in other species.