Key Findings
Scientists in Canada discovered that tissue from the scarlet sea cucumber (Psolus fabricii) can survive and remain biologically active for years after being amputated, without decaying.
- Isolated tube feet and tentacles have been kept in natural running seawater for over three years, during which they exhibited wound repair, cell growth, and restructuring.
- The tissues are capable of absorbing dissolved nutrients from seawater and responding to tactile stimuli, indicating a preserved neural network.
Background
- Unlike most animal tissues, which survive only about 9 weeks in laboratory conditions, P. fabricii tissue appears to thrive in natural seawater, which contains bacteria and organic matter.
- The species regularly loses tube feet and tentacles in its natural environment, suggesting a high capacity for regeneration.
- Tests on other sea cucumber species showed no comparable survival; their tissues lasted no more than 3.5 months.
Significance
- This is the first known case of a tissue explant surviving and growing long-term in a natural setting, challenging conventional notions of tissue immortality.
- The finding may provide new models for studying biological resilience and regeneration.
"The tissues are capable of absorbing dissolved nutrients from seawater and responding to tactile stimuli, indicating a preserved neural network."