Jelly Mould

Watching injured moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) off the coast of Long Beach, California researchers noticed something strange. While most rearranged their limbs as they healed – searching for the symmetry they need to move and feed – a few showed early signs of growing replacement arms. The team spent three years testing different chemicals aiming to coax this regeneration in the lab. They found a combination of nutrients and insulin help amputated A. aurita to shape new arms (bottom right here). The new limbs ‘pulse’ in time with the existing arms, hinting at a rebuilt neuromuscular network. Researchers believe that a specific energy boost during healing may help some organisms 'switch on' regeneration – similar chemical supplements encouraged partial regeneration in (some) injured fruit flies and mice. Perhaps there is a specific combination of genes and chemicals – of nature and nurture – that may one day help humans to heal in new ways.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Video by Michael J Abrams and colleagues
• Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
• Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in eLife, December 2021