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Researchers in Australia say a jelly-like sea sponge found along the Great Barrier Reef could provide clues to an elusive part of human DNA. Their newly published study, which examines 700 million years of evolution, concludes that the elements of the human genome, what scientists describe as “an incredibly complex and ever-changing instruction manual of life,” function the same way as the genome. of the prehistoric sea sponge.
Researchers at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney say that although the DNA of humans and these simple but highly adaptable aquatic invertebrates are not similar, they share a comparable set of instructions that control how information contained in a gene is decoded and used. Scientists believe these genetic links have been preserved through millions of years of evolution.
Lead researcher Emily Wong said the new study allowed them to “read” and better understand how our genetic library works.
“We focused on sequences in the genome called enhancers, and they’re responsible for turning genes on and off,” he said. “We found that similar sequences are deeply preserved by humans to sea sponges. Hence, it is over 700 million years of evolution. We are really excited about this discovery because it is the first time such a deeply preserved enhancer has been discovered.
Long before the dinosaurs, the sea sponge was one of the species that dominated life on Earth.
Researchers believe that it’s not just people who share a genetic link with sea sponges, but most likely the entire animal kingdom.
The study could have implications for biomedical advances and healthcare.
A senior researcher said: “The more we know about how our genes are linked, the better we are able to develop new treatments for diseases.”
The academic work was a collaboration between various Australian universities and research organizations and was published in the journal Science.
Credit: Voice of America (VOA)
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