HAPPY CTENOPHORE DAY (part II).

A full bucket of ctenophores for Ctenophore day - time to shimmer🌈🌊✨

Please watch till end: Mnemiopsis & Pleurobrachia included.

Alexandre @alexandrejan.bsky.social filmed and caught this ctenophore at the same time @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro

HAPPY CTENOPHORE DAY (part I).

The fjords around Bergen are full with Mnemiopsis right now. Movie by the amazing @alexandrejan.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social #ctenophores #GoPro

Another season has started as well. We now find many different ctenophores in Byfjorden, a fjord that runs into the city center of Bergen.

Here the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi: it uses a row of cilia called comb plates to swim. When hit by light, they create shimmering rainbows along their bodies.

Ctenophores possess a unique aboral organ that acts as a multisensory center, controlling complex behaviors. We’ve now created a ctenophore model integrated with our 3D volume EM data. Puts it into perspective.

Check out our recent work here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

#ctenophores #volumeEM

Our new paper is out: "The 3D architecture of the ctenophore aboral organ & the evolution of complex integrative centers in animals.

We reveal a remarkable cell type diversity, nerve net condensation, a multilayered circuit & gene expression profiles.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #ctenophores

Excited we played a small part in this amazing work out now in @nature.com. We established a ctenophore culture from a single individual through self-fertilization to reduce heterozygosity levels. Named them "Arnau" & they lived happily for 2 years 😂 @joanjsoto.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social

Ctenophores are ready to be seen and explored no matter atmospheric conditions 🤣🤩 @alexandrejan.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social