Meet the sea squirt: the golden star, a tiny, unassuming creature that could just be the answer to one of the greatest medical pursuits.

Scientifically termed Botryllus schlosseri, the sea squirt is a type of invertebrate that has a vasculature heart system and bears the most similarities to humans among all invertebrates. It even has 77 percent of genes that are found in humans. It has also been discovered that these marine filter feeders are able to regenerate solely through their blood vessels.

This breakthrough poses a shocking, almost inconceivable possibility: scientists could someday extract the sea squirt’s life saving secret and apply it to humans, allowing an injured person to redevelop a limb or even safely and easily accept a new organ. This life-saving capability is offset by the sea squirt’s destructive behavior.