Ctenophores Aren’t Just Beautiful. They’re Biological Wonders.

Around 700 million years ago, a group of simple, gelatinous organisms resembling glowing blobs split from other animals, forming what may be the earliest branch of the animal family tree.

These organisms are now known as ctenophores, or comb jellies, and there are nearly 200 species alive today.

Unlike jellyfish, ctenophores are unrelated to them and live in diverse environments, from deep-sea trenches to warm coastal waters.

Their survival over hundreds of millions of years is not just due to their beauty or glowing appearance but also because of their unique genetic makeup.

Scientists study ctenophores to understand fundamental biological questions, such as how the first nervous systems evolved and how bioluminescence—a phenomenon where organisms produce their own light—works.

Marine biologist Steven Haddock, who studies ctenophores at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, emphasizes that these organisms are valuable for investigating how life adapts to extreme conditions like high pressure or low light.