Navigation Links
Genomic sequencing of marine sponge published; revealed early genetic complexity and roots of cancer
Date:8/4/2010

back in evolutionary time in order to understand the origins of the brain, neurons, and synapses. "You really have to go back to the beginning of animals to understand what happened that led to the awakening of the human brain," he said.

"We had asked, 'Can we look at the evolutionary origins of the synapse?' " said Kosik. He explained that the marine sponge is called the most basal of all animals because the sponge ancestor probably branched off first from the original animal, before any other existent lineage.

"You had some ancestral animal that is long-since extinct, and its descendants became these modern-day sponges that we have, and there were other descendants that became the rest of the animal kingdom from jellyfish to baboons," said Kosik. "We speak of the sponge as being this earliest branching phylum, or group of animals. What distinguishes the sponge from all the other animals is that it does not have any nervous system or synapses."

He explained that the conclusion of that early work the finding that genes that encode a synapse are present in the sponge has important implications. "The conclusion of that paper said that what evolution did was exaptation," said Kosik. "This is a very important technical word. Evolution takes something that was evolved for one purpose and uses it for something else. Nature used this still-mysterious sponge structure to make the synapse, an exaptation of certain genes, which then became a key part of the nervous system."

Kosik said that another reason the discovery was important is that one of the ways that some anti-evolutionists have criticized evolution as an idea is by using the term "irreducible complexity." In other words, they say that the biology of certain organs is too complex to have developed through evolution. "How do you evolve an eye?" asked Kosik. "An eye is very complex, you can't have half an eye. You need a whole eye to function. If you are missing a piece, it is no
'/>"/>

Contact: Gail Gallessich
gail.gallessich@ia.ucsb.edu
805-893-7220
University of California - Santa Barbara
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Broad Institute awarded major grant to bolster epigenomics research
2. Complete Genomics launches, becomes worlds first large-scale human genome sequencing company
3. Governor Doyle announces historic genomic research collaboration
4. First comprehensive genomic study of common cold reveals new treatment targets
5. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News reports on the trend toward predictive toxicogenomics
6. St. Jude identifies genomic causes of a certain type of leukemia relapse
7. Computation and genomics data drive bacterial research into new golden age
8. New gene variants present opportunities in nutrigenomics
9. Nutrigenomics -- developing personalized diets for disease prevention
10. Human genomics in China
11. Mixing genomics and geography yields insights into life and environment
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Genomic sequencing of marine sponge published; revealed early genetic complexity and roots of cancer
(Date:5/24/2013)... systems like ecosystems can get messy, especially when trying ... like climate change. , In a new paper ... of the National Academy of Sciences , researchers from ... assumption at the very heart of a popular way ... how climate changes may impact biodiversity, researchers like Jessica ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... 24, 2013 A frequently expressed concern in the ongoing ... fresh vegetables, especially those that are nutrient dense. ... and Beans Provide Most Nutrients Per Penny," published in ... are one of the best nutritional values in the ... per penny than most other raw vegetables and delivering ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... fastest growing open-access publishers, today announces the launch of ... A broad scope journal covering all specialties, Frontiers ... web platform for the research community to publish high ... and interactive peer-review enables fast, fair and constructive review ... of three months from submission to final decision for ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Understanding the past and predicting the future by looking across space and time 2New research shows that potatoes provide one of the best nutritional values per penny 2Frontiers launches new open-access journal in physics 2Frontiers launches new open-access journal in physics 3
... clumps of protein found within nerve cells are ... were first identified in the early 1900s by German ... in a protein called tau cause it to aggregate ... Normally, the tau protein is involved in the formation ...
... of cardiovascular disease, research from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the ... obesity hormones adiponectin - are also linked to osteoporosis ... is more than just bones, vertebrae and joints. In fact, ... our brain, our muscles and our fatty tissue. Stem cells ...
... D deficiency is common in Americans, and especially in ... of Health. University of Missouri researchers have found that ... vitamin D3 is safe and effective in improving their ... risk for deficiency because they tend to absorb vitamin ...
Cached Biology News:Chemical engineers help decipher mystery of neurofibrillary tangle formation in Alzheimer's brains 2Obese adolescents benefit from high-dose vitamin D supplements 2
(Date:5/24/2013)... (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 Dr. Ingrid Warmuth ... and Swedesboro, NJ, are proud to announce an Open House ... take place on Saturday, June 8th from 10 AM to ... Anamaria Newport, MHS, PA-C and staff will be on hand ... laser and aesthetic treatments, and provide complimentary cosmetic consultations. There ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... 24, 2013 In a sneak ... suppliers will present technologies with applications in multiple ... SPIE Optics and Photonics symposium in ... SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics ... optical sciences and technology meeting in North America, ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... May 24, 2013 Bed bug cases tend ... themselves from the looming higher risk of becoming the pests' ... new bed bug guideline. In the guide, the company enumerated ... and avoiding them while traveling. , According to My ... increase of bed bug infestation during summer: the warm weather ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... and TEL AVIV, Israel , May ... the "Company") (NYSE MKT: NSPR), a leader in embolic protection ... Company,s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Craig ... in the Benchmark Company, LLC One-on-One Investor Conference on Thursday ... Ave., Milwaukee, WI. The ...
Breaking Biology Technology:See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 2See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 3See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 4Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs without Using Chemicals and Avoiding Them While Traveling Enumerated by My Cleaning Products in Its Latest Post 2Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs without Using Chemicals and Avoiding Them While Traveling Enumerated by My Cleaning Products in Its Latest Post 3InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 2InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 3InspireMD To Participate In Benchmark Investor Conference On May 30th 4
... GenVault,s energy and space efficient technologies ideally suit ... create a new paradigm for eco-friendly, sustainable Biobanking ... announces the opening of its newly-formed Japanese subsidiary ... the expanding Biobanking market and its growing customer ...
... Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held ophthalmic-focused biopharmaceutical company, today ... ophthalmic gel, 0.15%, has been accepted for review by ... is seeking approval for ganciclovir as a treatment for ... simplex virus. The FDA has issued an action date ...
... 26 Fifty percent of clinical trial management ... share high-value, proprietary company information via e-mail, while ... overnight courier (14 percent), according to a recent ... for exchanging clinical trial information with outside parties ...
Cached Biology Technology:GenVault Opens Japanese Subsidiary to Better Address Global Biobanking Market Growth 2Sirion Therapeutics New Drug Application for Ganciclovir is Accepted for Review by the FDA for the Treatment of Ocular Herpes 2Sirion Therapeutics New Drug Application for Ganciclovir is Accepted for Review by the FDA for the Treatment of Ocular Herpes 3IntraLinks Poll: Half of Clinical Trial Management Professionals Share Critical Information Via E-Mail 2
Human sIL-2R/CD25 ELI-PAIR Kit...
Request Info...
ANTI-HUMAN CYTOKINES, GROWTH FACTORS (polyclonal rabbit (or goat) antibodies) Human TARC - Biotin...
Anti-Bcl-G (CT) Host: rabbit polyclonal Species Reactivity: human, mouse, rat Applications: WB, IHC Storage: 4C...
Biology Products: