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Scientists recently discovered a marine invertebrate with the remarkable ability to reverse its aging process, challenging the traditional life cycle of birth, aging and death that most animals follow. THE comb jelly, Mnemiopsis leidyican regress from adult to larval form under extreme stress, as detailed in a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
This unexpected discovery opens exciting possibilities for research into age reversal mechanisms, life cycle plasticity and animal development. By studying the unique “time travel” abilities of these ancient creatures, researchers hope to better understand the biology of aging, which could one day impact our understanding of human longevity.

What are comb jellies?

Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are a group of gelatinous marine invertebrates known for their distinctive rows of cilia, which resemble combs and help them swim. Often confused with jellyfish due to their soft, translucent bodies, they belong to a distinct phylum, Ctenophora. These fascinating creatures inhabit oceans around the world, from shallow coastal waters to deep seas.
Comb jellies are also bioluminescent, creating a fascinating light display when they move. Unlike jellyfish, they lack stinging cells; instead, they capture prey like small plankton using sticky cells called colloblasts. Some species, such as Mnemiopsis leidyi, exhibit remarkable biological traits, such as the ability to reverse aging and revert to the larval stage.

Scientists discover comb jellies that defy aging

Comb jellies, or ctenophores, particularly Mnemiopsis leidyi, have been found to reverse the aging process and return to a more youthful state, according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Joan J. Soto-Angel, co-author of the study, was initially surprised to find a comb jelly larva in her lab’s tank, where an adult version usually resided. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the same animal. This resulted in an experiment aimed at replicating the conditions that triggered the aging process.
The research found that adult comb jellies could regress to the larval stage when exposed to extreme stress. Soto-Angel, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bergen in Norway, explained: “This challenges our understanding of early animal development and body plans, opening new avenues to study plasticity and life cycle rejuvenation. The discovery of a species capable of this process of “time travel” raises intriguing questions about the extent of this ability in the animal kingdom. »
Over several weeks, the comb jellies not only remodeled their morphological characteristics, but also exhibited feeding behaviors typical of cyddipid larvae. This dramatic transformation indicates a complete reversal of their biological development.

Comb jellyfish and other marine life that can ‘reverse time’

Comb jellies, which have been around for around 700 million years, are among the oldest animal species on the planet. However, they are not the only ones who can reverse aging. THE immortal jellyfishTurritopsis dohrnii, is also known to undergo reverse biological development, making them both members of a rare group of “time travelers” in the animal kingdom.
This discovery could offer revolutionary insights into aging processes in humans and contribute to the study of developmental biology in other species. Paul Burkhardt, another co-author, remarked: “This fascinating discovery will pave the way for many important discoveries. It will be exciting to explore the molecular mechanisms behind reverse development and understand what happens to the animal’s nerve network during this process.
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