When a lobster molts, or sheds its shell or exoskeleton, it’s a struggle. Signaled by hormonal change, it literally crawls out of its own skin. Yet, this somewhat dangerous process has to occur in order for it to grow. Some die during the molt or in the immediate aftermath, before their soft bodies harden again. The ones that survive casting off the former shell then hide away during the transformation in which a new larger exoskeleton grows.
A similar process happens to many creatures, not just those with exoskeletons. Molting also happens to birds, and even us. Although not as dramatic as with snakes, we too experience this Exfoliation or shedding of skin or hair, a regenerative process that creates new cells.
So the first lesson from the lobster is that perhaps we could reframe and experience aging differently, the physiological symptoms being a transitional challenge to overcome, that of a molt or metamorphosis, of shedding the outdated to regenerate the new and improved. A lobster can regrow its limbs, and even its eyes!
Although many hormones are involved, one such that is responsible for molting in Crustaceans is ecdysone. (1) It’s a steroid hormone, and steroids are signaling molecules that “play an essential role in a wide range of physiological functions, including growth, development, energy metabolism, homeostasis and reproduction.” (2)
In crustaceans the steroid hormone ecdysone is released by the prothoracic glands, the thorax being the chest cavity in many animals or vertebrates, including humans. Ecdysone is also known as “Ecdysterone” or “20-hydroxyecdysone” also occurs in some plants such as Cyanotis arachnoidea native to China with the highest concentration, and even Spinach and Quinoa. (4)
There is evidence that Ecdysterone — yes, the morphogenic hormone of lobsters, butterflies, spiders, snakes and birds — is a mild, effective non-toxic performance enhancement supplement linked to protein synthesis and building muscle. (5)
Let’s not forget the numerous beneficial hormones that we naturally produce though. In humans, the thoracic area contains the Thymus gland, which is between the lungs. The thymus produces many hormones, including: Thymopoietin, that fuels the production of T-cells and signals the pituitary gland; thymosin and thymulin for T-cell differentiation, and the immunomodulatory peptide hormone Thymic Humoral Factor. (3)
The next lesson from the Lobster is figuring out how to better utilize existing pathways and create new ones. Animals and plants have adapted differently than us, and because of that, there’s a lot we can respectfully and nondestructively learn from them. Ocular regeneration in crustaceans is a great example of a novel pathway that is a “genetic coordination of cellular reprogramming” involving glial [nervous systems ‘glue] cells and re-differentiation of retinal cells. (7)
That certainly makes me think of parallels in humans to achieve the same, that instead of surgery or transplant, there could be a pathway to stimulate using targeted sound or light frequencies, for example. Sound and light have strong and proven effects on the endocrine and other body systems. And “sonogenetics” and “optogenetics” are both fields on the cusp. (8) There’s also the use of certain plant compounds or foods, as earlier mentioned — aka “nutrigenomics.” (9)
The endocrine or hormone system is an important network [within networks] in many organisms, that modulates growth. For humans, the pituitary gland is referred to as the “Master Gland,” is located at the base of the brain, in line with top of the nose. And behind it at a slight upward angle is the pineal gland, a non-visual photosensitive organ, in the deep middle of the brain. It should be noted though that most vertebrates have these “third eye” glands. So another lesson here is that we have more in common with Animalia and Plantae (and even Fungi) than not.
The glands and hormones are transformative in many species and making connections with knowledge helps us evolve. This evolution can be viewed as simultaneously biological and spiritual, and physical, mental or emotional because all are part of the organism’s being. The process of molting or shedding, of cycles of regeneration or change can be better understood by us for enhancement of quality of life and longevity.
The last lesson here from the lobster is what could be mistaken for the end could actually be an opportunity for another beginning. And we can possibly find the optimal steps, pathways and conditions to adapt to ongoing regeneration. In all likelihood, that is one reason why there is yet an enormous amount more to learn about biology in general and a vastness to the genome, because we have only scratched the surface of what are capable of understanding and achieving, that we are at the next stage of growth, in exercising our agency.
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23016-thymus
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/srep37322
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31123801/
6. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/lifestyle/ajna-chakra-how-to-open-the-pineal-eye-669185
7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468550X1730196X
8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1935861X22002066
