Psolus fabricii Parts Survive 3 Years After Severing, Regenerating as Independent Tissue
Updated
Updated · BBC Discover Wildlife · Jun 8
Psolus fabricii Parts Survive 3 Years After Severing, Regenerating as Independent Tissue
2 articles · Updated · BBC Discover Wildlife · Jun 8
Summary
More than three years after being torn off, severed Psolus fabricii legs and tentacles were observed staying alive on their own, absorbing amino acids and nutrients from seawater while cells kept dividing.
Less than six days after separation, the detached tissue sealed its wound and reorganized into a stable living unit, while the original animal simultaneously began repairing the missing limb site.
apoptosis — programmed cell death — was recorded in the severed parts, showing they could clear damaged, infection-prone tissue even after losing contact with the main body.
Tentacle fragments still reacted when poked, indicating preserved neural networks and some muscle regeneration, though detached tube feet stayed motionless for the rest of their lifespan.
The finding, described as the first known case of severed tissue surviving independently, could inform tissue engineering and efforts to regenerate damaged human tissue.