Severed body parts from a sea cucumber survived for over three years in a lab, healing themselves and absorbing nutrients without a mouth.
Researchers call the tissue fragments zombies because they maintain cellular function indefinitely without growing into new organisms.
The discovery could provide a new model for medical research with immortal cells that thrive in natural conditions without ethical constraints.
AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.
What does it mean to be alive? A new study on an astonishing sea creature suggests the answer may be more complicated than it seems.
