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Scientists Say They've Discovered 'Little Lab Zombies'—Seemingly Immortal Tissue Taken From Sea Cucumbers
Key takeaways
- A microscope image of tissue taken from a sea cucumber.
- These seemingly immortal things—amputated tissue from the sea cucumber species Psolus fabricii—appear to exist in a gray zone of life.
- Sea cucumbers are an ancient type of spineless creature that sit on the ocean floor.
A microscope image of tissue taken from a sea cucumber. The green coloring indicates cellular activity. Sara Jobson Scientists have stumbled upon what they’ve dubbed real-life “zombies.”
These seemingly immortal things—amputated tissue from the sea cucumber species Psolus fabricii—appear to exist in a gray zone of life. The discovery, described in a study published on May 27 in the journal Science Advances, could be useful for future research but also raises philosophical questions about what it means to be alive.
Sea cucumbers are an ancient type of spineless creature that sit on the ocean floor. They’re known for their remarkable regenerative powers; some species can be split in half, after which the separated sides will regrow their missing parts.