Scientists found that a sea anemone can distinguish helpful bacteria from harmful bacteria without antibodies or immune memory cells

Sea anemones distinguish helpful bacteria from harmful invaders without antibodies.

Specialized cell structures engulf and destroy foreign bacteria while preserving beneficial microbes.

Gene editing revealed a key gene regulating this selective bacterial identification process.

This discovery challenges long-held assumptions about early animal immune system evolution.

These primitive pathways offer insights into ancient immune memory and maternal transfer.