Overview

• The comb jelly, Mnemiopsis leidyi, can age in reverse, reverting from adulthood to its larval stage when subjected to extreme stress or trauma.
• This discovery was made accidentally by researchers at the University of Bergen when a larval comb jelly appeared in place of an adult in their lab.
• The study, published in the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the potential for reverse development as a survival mechanism.
• Researchers are exploring the molecular mechanisms behind this process, which may offer insights into life cycle plasticity and rejuvenation.
• The findings prompt questions about how widespread this capability might be across other species, opening new avenues for developmental biology research.