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How a sea anemone grows its tentacles

Creature's cells change shape to form appendages

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Making a sea anemone tentacle takes a bit of stretching, researchers report in the May 15 Development.

A series of microscope images and illustrations show how cells in a sea anemone larva called Nematostella vectensis start out tall and thin and then gradually flatten to produce a tentacle.