MBL March Madness: Comb Jelly

Since MBL opened its doors in 1888, scientists and students have been studying the interesting and unique biology of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. During the summer months Mnemiopsis leidyi can be found in Eel Pond, at the NOAA jetty, and in other nearby harbors. Experimental embryologists at MBL have a long history of using Mnemiopsis for cell lineage analyses, facilitated by the rapid and synchronous development of their optically transparent embryos. MBL researchers have characterized aspects of Mnemiopsis biomechanics that may underly their invasive success as well as how ctenophores use their namesake giant cilia for locomotion. Insights from sequencing the whole genome of Mnemiopsis leidyi has served to highlight the early branching relationship of ctenophores relative to other animal phyla and driven a resurgence of interest in ctenophore biology.

Fun Facts:

• It is native to the western Atlantic but has become a notorious invasive coastal species in the Black, Caspian, Mediterranean and North Seas of Europe and Western Asia.
• It is the largest animal known to use cilia for locomotion.
• Mnemiopsis, unlike cnidarians with stinging cells, catch prey with sticky glue-like adhesive cells on their tentacles.