Tuesday July 30, 2024
StudyFinds —
In the realm of evolutionary biology, an unlikely hero has emerged: the sea lamprey. This ancient, jawless fish, often viewed as a pest in Midwestern fisheries, is helping scientists unlock the secrets of our own evolutionary past. A jaw-dropping study from Northwestern University reveals fascinating insights into the origins of two crucial types of stem cells that played a pivotal role in vertebrate evolution.
The study, led by Professor Carole LaBonne, focuses on two types of stem cells: pluripotent blastula cells (also known as embryonic stem cells) and neural crest cells. Both of these cell types have the remarkable ability to develop into any other cell type in the body, a property known as pluripotency. By comparing the genetic makeup of lampreys with that of Xenopus, a jawed aquatic frog, the researchers have uncovered striking similarities in the gene networks that regulate these stem cells across both jawless and jawed vertebrates.
This discovery is particularly intriguing because lampreys represent one of only two living groups of jawless vertebrates, making them invaluable for understanding our evolutionary roots.