Cell transplant across the tree of life hints at how animals emerged

In the 1920s, embryologist Hilde Mangold’s groundbreaking experiment revealed the existence of an embryonic “organizer” that directs the formation of a body axis, a discovery that revolutionized developmental biology. Recently, scientists led by Stanislav Kremnyov discovered a similar organizer in comb jellies, ancient marine predators, and successfully transplanted it into sea anemones, resulting in the formation of extra mouths and pharynxes. This finding suggests that organizers may have played a crucial role in the evolution of multicellular animals from single-celled organisms. While some scientists are excited about these implications, others remain skeptical. The research builds on Mangold’s legacy and raises questions about the evolutionary origins of organizers, which were previously thought to be limited to vertebrates. QUESTION: How might the discovery of organizers in ancient marine species change our understanding of animal evolution and its impact on future biological research?