"Starfish: Are Their Bodies Just Heads?"

New research using HIFI sequencing suggests that starfish bodies are essentially just one giant head with no discernable trunk or torso, contrary to previous assumptions. The study found gene expressions corresponding to a head all over the sea stars, especially in the center of the body and each arm, but no signs of genes associated with a trunk. This challenges the traditional understanding of starfish anatomy and raises questions about the evolution of echinoderms.