Generally somatic cells do not possess telomerase activity and
telomere shortening is at least partly responsible for replicative
senescence of somatic cells. This is the first study to show that somatic
tissues of both polyp and medusa stages of a cnidarian had telomerase
activity. Telomerase activity in somatic tissues may be related to the
presence of multipotent interstitial cells and high regenerative capacity
of cnidarians