Since ancient times, humanity has attempted to understand its evolutionary roots. And although there are plenty of accepted theories about this, a recent study from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research has revealed an unexpected evolutionary relationship between humans and sea lampreys.
Published in Nature Communications, the research refers to creatures that have been inhabiting the oceans for at least 500 million years, and which have remarkable similarities with humans.
From demons to cousins?
Often described as sea monsters, lampreys are known for their mouths full of sharp teeth and jawless jaws.
But this study focuses on other characteristics. More precisely in the hindbrain, a fundamental brain area in vertebrates that controls vital functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
Thus, studies have shown that both humans and sea lampreys share a set of similar genetic and molecular tools for the development of this part of the brain.
A specific molecular signal, retinoic acid, also known as vitamin A, appears to play an essential role in this process in both complex species and sea lampreys, challenging previous assumptions about the simplicity of these ancient organisms.
genetic link
Thus, the existence of this genetic and molecular link would clarify the relationship between modern species and their jawless ancestors.
“The origin of vertebrates occurred about 500 million years ago with the split between jawless and jawless. (…) We wanted to understand how the vertebrate brain evolved and whether there was something unique to jawed vertebrates that was missing in their jawless relatives,” explained Alice Bedois, one of the researchers.
He added: “We found that not only the same genes, but also the same signals are involved in the development of the sea lamprey's hindbrain, suggesting that this process is ancestral to all vertebrates.”
And of course, the discovery challenges previously held theories about brain development in vertebrates, suggesting that the process of hindbrain formation is ancestral to all vertebrates, including humans.
However, in addition to bridging an important evolutionary gap, this discovery sheds light on new areas that have not yet been explored, such as the study of anomalies in head and facial development in humans.
Sea lampreys, belonging to a lineage of jawless fish called Agnatha, managed to survive the age of dinosaurs, the splitting of continents and extreme climate change, so their resistance cannot be random.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/metroworldnews/UUGCSIDVNJAHDJJAS7TQV3JFTY.jpg "Study Reveals Relationship Between Sea Monsters And Humans - Publimetro Chile")
(Tags to translate) Sea monsters (T) What are sea monsters (T) Sea monsters and humans (T) Sea monsters discovered (T) Origin of life (T) Origin of humanity (T) Sea lampreys
