Jellyfish engineered with 12 heads
Biologists have genetically engineered jellyfish to have up to 12 heads. (Seen here is dual-headed specimen.) To alter the organisms so dramatically, the scientists from the Hanover University of Veterinary Medicine tweaked the genes that determine body shape. From LiveScience:LinkAnimals with many heads are rare in nature, suggesting that two or more heads usually aren't better than one – having more than one head results in costs with no immediate matching benefits.
However, (researcher Bernd) Schierwater noted that corals, which are animals, often form colonies by adding heads to a common stalk, each of which connect to a common gut, just as with the modified jellyfish that the researchers created.
Previously on BB:
• Jellyfish toxin produces erections Link
• Jellyfish's stinger-firing captured on video Link
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David Pescovitz
Collector of anomalies, esoterica, and curiosities.
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