Part of a group of single-cell freshwater protozoans and one of the largest unicellular organisms known, Stentor coeruleus can regenerate as multiple whole organisms when broken into small pieces. Stentor has a long research history at MBL – including studies of its impressive regenerative capacity in the 1890s by Nobel Prize winner and long-time MBL
While bilaterian animals have a distinct front, back, top, and bottom, non-bilaterian organisms lack that symmetry. Non-bilaterian animals include sponges, jellyfish, corals, comb jellies, sea anemones, and placazoa (simple, free-floating multicellular marine organisms). This group split from bilaterians early in animal evolution. Meet the Members of the Non-Bilaterian Division Northern Star Coral (Astrangia poculata) Jellyfish
Cape Cod’s only native shallow-water hard coral, Astrangia poculata is studied by MBL scientists to better understand the role of symbionts and temperature in coral skeleton formation. MBL scientists are also interested in how these corals can withstand a wide range of temperatures when most tropical corals are stressed by only a few degrees temperature
The adult medusa phase of Clytia hemisphaerica is an excellent model for studying wound healing and regeneration in epithelial (skin) cells. Epithelial cells form a simple monolayer on the upper surface of the medusa. These cells can be gently scratched to create a wound. The transparency of the system makes it ideal for imaging and