Have you ever thought about how diverse the animal kingdom is? It’s fascinating to see how different creatures are related, especially when you consider those that seem far apart, like humans and sea anemones. While they inhabit entirely different worlds—one on land and the other underwater—they share some surprising biological similarities.
Sea anemones belong to the phylum Cnidaria, known for their radially symmetrical bodies. This means their structure is built around a central point, unlike bilaterians, such as humans, which have bilateral symmetry that divides their bodies into mirrored halves. Despite their differences, studies show that sea anemones and bilaterians share some ancient techniques in body formation. This is intriguing as it suggests a deeper evolutionary connection.
A recent study from the University of Vienna discovered that sea anemones employ a technique called bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) shuttling, which was previously thought to be unique to bilaterians. This method helps create the structure of their bodies. Understanding this raises questions: Did this technique develop before the two phyla split, around 600 to 700 million years ago, or did it evolve independently in both groups?
David Mörsdorf, the lead author of the study, explained, “The fact that both bilaterians and sea anemones use this shuttling mechanism suggests it’s ancient.” BMPs act like messengers that guide embryonic cells in their development. They determine where different tissues should form in the body. For instance, low BMP levels contribute to forming the nervous system, while higher levels can trigger skin development.
Interestingly, Chordin, an inhibitor that also serves as a BMP shuttle, plays a key role in this process—just like in frogs and other animals. Mörsdorf’s findings indicate that the traits involved in body formation may have existed long before Cnidarians and bilaterians branched off from their common ancestor. Even though these two groups diverged millions of years ago and developed vastly different structures, they still share fundamental biological traits.
Grigory Genikhovich, another author from the study, noted, “We can’t completely rule out that both groups evolved their body plans separately. However, if their last common ancestor had bilateral symmetry, it likely used Chordin to direct BMPs for this formation.”
Exploring these connections helps us understand more about evolution and the intricate relationships within the animal kingdom. With ongoing research, our knowledge continues to evolve, revealing deeper insights into how life on Earth developed over millions of years.
For more in-depth information on this study, you can check out the original research published in Science Advances.
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Anemones, phylum Cnidarians
