In the world, there are animals with cells whose growths have a functioning is quite similar to that of a 3D printer. These are polyhetes, a group of annelides bringing together very many species.
Something very curious at the molecular level
Polychete worms are all aquatic. The vast majority of them are seafarers, some of which are living in the estuaries of rivers. Others have nevertheless taken up residence in fresh water areas but barely represent less than 200 species among the 13,000 that the group counts. Above all, polyhetes have parapodes,
Lateral paw -shaped side organs (or paddle) allowing them to swim, crawl on the seabed or even dig tunnels. Now, these organs have the distinction of being provided with “bristles”similar to long hairs.
You should know that science is studying for a long time polychetic worms, for the simple reason that these are interesting models for the biology of regeneration. Indeed, they can regenerate most of their body And this, with increased effectiveness in the face of certain other organizations with similar capacities.
Florian Raible works as a molecular biologist at Max Perutz laboratories from the University of Vienna (Austria). The person concerned and his team published a study on polychetic worms in the journal Nature Communications in 2024. According to the publication, scientists have discovered something very curious at the molecular levelafter using electron microscopy and tomography.
Crédits : Yale University Peabody Museum / Wikimedia
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A double discovery!
By observing specimens of the species Platylereis dumeriliibiologists have discovered that bristles covering parapods accompanied by special cells : blasts. However, these cells themselves have growths capable of lengthening and retracting at will. Their function? Place chitin – a natural molecule – when forming each silk. According to the researchers, it is possible to Compare blast growths to 3D printers. However, beyond this particularity as astonishing as it is interesting, another surprising discovery was made. There is indeed a question of a very close resemblance between the geometry of blasts and that of sensory cells that are found in the inner ear many vertebrates, including humans.
For Florian Raible, blasts would not only be interesting in the apprehension of the phenomenon of regeneration. These growths could in the future embody a new model allowing better study certain similar cells. In other words, it would be possible to better understanding affections such as deafnesswhose appearance can occur after a damage to these sensory cells.
