PLoS Biology Issue Image | Vol. 24(8) September 2026

@article{anon2026plos,
  title = {{PLoS Biology Issue Image | Vol. 24(8) September 2026}},
  journal = {PLoS Biology},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1371/image.pbio.v24.i08},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/image.pbio.v24.i08},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - PLoS Biology Issue Image | Vol. 24(8) September 2026
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/15
JO  - PLoS Biology
DO  - 10.1371/image.pbio.v24.i08
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1371/image.pbio.v24.i08
AB  - A single-cell transcriptomic atlas reveals the emergence of medusa-specific cell states in the scyphozoan Aurelia coerulea: The life cycle of most medusozoan cnidarians is marked by the metagenesis between the asexually reproducing sessile polyp and the sexually reproducing motile medusa. At present, it is unknown to what extent this drastic morphological transformation is accompanied by molecular changes in the cell type composition. Link et al. provide a single-cell transcriptome atlas of the cosmopolitan scyphozoan Aurelia coerulea, focusing on changes in individual cell states during the transition from polyp to medusa. Notably, this transition is marked by an increase in cell type diversity, including an expansion of neural subtypes and the appearance of striated muscles. The authors find that two families of neuronal lineages are specified by homologous transcription factors in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis and A. coerulea, suggesting an origin in the common ancestor of medusozoans and anthozoans about 500 Myr ago. Their analysis also suggests that gene duplications might be drivers for the increase of cellular complexity during the evolution of cnidarian neuroglandular lineages and highlights the close relationship of neurons and muscles. The image shows a moon jellyfish (Aurelia coerulea) specimen photographed at the “Zoo Schönbrunn” in Vienna (Austria).
SN  - 1545-7885
ER  -