Tag

Ctenophores

All articles tagged with #ctenophores

science27 days ago•8 min saved

Comb Jellies Reveal Ancient Secrets of Nervous Systems and Bioluminescence

Ctenophores, or comb jellies, are emerging as critical subjects in evolutionary biology due to their position as the earliest branching animal lineage. Recent research has identified unique features in these organisms, including a nervous system lacking synapses, specialized lipids that withstand deep-sea pressure, and genes responsible for bioluminescence. These findings challenge previous assumptions about the complexity of early animal life and offer insights into human biology, such as the role of specific lipids in neurodegenerative diseases. The discovery that ctenophores can reverse their development from adult to larval stages further highlights their biological plasticity and provides a model for understanding fundamental principles of life.

via Quanta Magazine|

#bioluminescence #ctenophores #evolutionary-biology

science7 months ago•3 min saved

Ancient comb jellies surface in Colombia, with six new country records

Researchers documented 15 comb jellies (ctenophores) in Colombia’s Caribbean and Pacific waters, including six species never recorded in the country before. Because these fragile organisms dissolve when nets are used, scientists relied on underwater photography and citizen science to catalog them, highlighting the rich biodiversity of gelatinous plankton and the value of non-invasive methods in remote marine exploration.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#biodiversity #colombia #comb-jellies

science1 year ago•3 min saved

700-Million-Year-Old Species Redefines Evolutionary History

Recent genomic research reveals that ctenophores, or comb jellies, are the earliest known branch of the animal tree of life, predating sponges, which challenges previous assumptions and suggests that complex traits like nerves and muscles may have evolved independently in different lineages, reshaping our understanding of animal evolution.

via Indian Defence Review|

#animal-evolution #ctenophores #early-life

science1 year ago•5 min saved

700-Million-Year-Old Ancient Creature Discovered

A groundbreaking genomic study reveals that ctenophores, not sponges, are the earliest branch of the animal tree of life, challenging previous assumptions and suggesting complex traits like nervous systems may have evolved more than once, reshaping our understanding of animal origins.

via The Brighter Side of News|

#animal-evolution #ctenophores #early-animals

science3 years ago•9 min saved

Uncovering the Origins and Evolution of Animals through Genetics and Fossils.

A new study based on chromosome structure has determined that comb jellies, or ctenophores, were the first lineage to diverge from the animal tree of life, preceding sponges. This research contributes to our understanding of early animal evolution and offers insight into the origin of key features of animal biology such as the nervous system, muscles, and the digestive tract. The study relied on the organization of genes into chromosomes to determine the evolutionary relationships among diverse creatures, shedding light on the earliest animal ancestors.

via SciTechDaily|

#animal-evolution #chromosome-structure #ctenophores

science3 years ago•3 min saved

The Unusual Nervous System of Comb Jellies Challenges Evolutionary Theories.

The nervous system of ctenophores, also known as comb jellies, has a fused network of neurons that are not connected through synapses, challenging theories about how the nervous system evolved. The neurons are fused and share a continuous membrane, forming what scientists call a syncytium. This distinct nerve net supports the idea that their nervous system could have evolved independently of that of other animals. The results also rekindle a century-old debate involving the two neuroscientists who shared the 1906 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on the structure of the nervous system.

via Nature.com|

#ctenophores #evolution #nervous-system