DigitalMarine educational and research training
As part of the EU-funded, state-of-the-art DigitalMarine research and teaching activities we have been collecting the closest living relative of the “urmetazoon”, the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens, from different oceans around the world. Right at the foot of the birthplace of marine biology in Europe, Bernd Schierwater has been collecting placozoans barehanded and with his jeans on since 1985.
Among many highlights for the students is the new ABC (Aerospace, Biology, Cancer) model system, the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens. These most primitive of all metazoan animals can be collected from warm ocean waters with your pants on (see photo). Among many model system applications the ABC use of Trichoplax in a synergy of space research and developmental genetics in order to fight cancer in humans is one that fascinates not only students.
Professor Schierwater collecting and explaining placozoans at Banyuls-sur-Mer.