Scientists have discovered a very strange genetic link between humans and sea anemones, as researchers have linked this marine creature to one of the senses that humans enjoy.
Scientists have strangely linked a gene related to the development of hearing in humans with sensory development in sea anemones as well, a very strange link that many scientists did not expect.
According to the article published in the scientific journal “elife”, the gene, which is called “pou-iv” or “pow-four”, can be found in the tentacles of the sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis), where this gene plays an important role in the sense of touch. have the animal.
The scientists pointed out that the branch to which the sea anemone belongs is “Cnidaria”, which is the branch closest to “Bilateria”, which are animals with bilateral symmetry such as humans, which differ from their last common ancestor who lived about 748 to 604 million years ago.
The discovery of the gene’s role in the star sea anemones suggests that it was present in their common ancestor and likely played a role in sensory development at the time as well.
The sensory receptors of the auditory system in humans and other vertebrates are called “hair cells.” These cells contain bundles of finger-like organelles called “streocytes” that sense mechanical stimuli. Vibrations we hear as sounds. In mammals, pou-iv is essential for the growth of capillary cells, and scientists know this because mice that had this gene removed were born without these cells.
According to the article published in the journal Sciencealert, sea anemones have similar mechanical sensory hair cells on their tentacles, which are used to sense movement. However, little was known about the “pou-iv” gene found in anemones and what role it played in sensory development.
A team of researchers led by biologist Ethan Osment of the University of Arkansas wanted to know what the gene was doing, and the researchers edited the gene and monitored for variants.
The researchers injected a mixture containing the “Cas9” protein into fertilized sea anemone eggs to cut the “pou-iv” gene, and studied the developing embryos, as well as the anemone.
The scientists concluded that the new anemones were born without a sense of touch, meaning that the hair cells did not respond to any sensory source (they lost the sense of touch) and the anemones were unable to sense mechanical stimuli through the cells.
The researchers said the results indicate that the pou-iv gene played a role in the development of mechanosensory cells in the common ancestor of Cnidaria and Bilateria. (agencies)
read more: