Researchers at Memorial University have made a discovery that could have broader implications for biological and biomedical research.

The researchers discovered sea cucumber tissue that can survive, heal and function independently for years after being removed from the original animal.

The researchers call it an “unprecedented finding” that offers a new model to study tissure survival, regeneration and cellular resilience.

PhD student Sara Jobson led the study and found that small fragments of tissue taken from tube feet, tentacles and the main body of cold-water sea cucumber did not decay as expected. Instead the tissue fragments repaired themselves, reorganized and remained biologically active for more than three years in the right environment.

Sea cucumber are already known for their ability to regenerate lost body parts, but scientists previously assumed that any detached tissue would quickly die. The new findings overturn that assumption, showing that excised tissue can maintain cellular activity and carry out metabolic processes independently of the main organism.

The findings have been published in Science Advances.