Comb Jellies' Unique Ability to Fuse After Injury Discovered

Researchers find that injured comb jellies can merge into a single organism, sharing nervous and digestive systems.

The species Mnemiopsis leidyi, known as the sea walnut, can fuse with another individual after sustaining an injury.
This fusion process involves merging their nervous systems and synchronizing muscle contractions within two hours.
Despite sharing digestive systems, fused comb jellies maintain independent control over their excretion timing.
The lack of allorecognition in these ctenophores suggests an inability to distinguish between self and non-self tissues.
The discovery could have implications for regenerative medicine and understanding immune system evolution.