A Stanford University study has used genetic and molecular tools to unravel the mysteries of starfish anatomy, challenging conventional understanding and revealing a complex evolutionary history. The study investigated the change in body plan from biradial to pentaradial and highlighted the importance of studying diverse life forms to gain insights into evolutionary biology. The study found that the starfish’s “head” is spread across multiple regions, including the center and each limb of the starfish’s body. According to Laurent, a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, the answer to the mystery is much more complex than anticipated, suggesting that the evolution of the group was even more complex than previously thought.
The study uses a comparative approach using genetic and molecular techniques to mine biodiversity, providing insight into why different animals look the way they do and how their body plans evolved. The research reveals a new piece of the puzzle of the evolutionary tree and was funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub.
Source: scitechdaily.com
