Tag Archives: Body

Identifying and Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder

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If you’ve ever made it a goal to change your appearance, you’re not alone. Around 43% of UK adults have the goal of losing weightFor many, these goals can extend to more extreme methods of altering their appearance, such as cosmetic or plastic surgery.

But when does this common and widespread desire for self-improvement and betterment become something more sinister? 3 percent of the general populationThis can lead to a constant desire to modify or change one’s physical appearance, a condition known as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).

People with BDD believe that they have significant physical flaws or defects that, to other people, may be minor or even non-existent.

Rebecca*, a 36-year-old woman, strongly believes she looks like she has a “moon face” because she can’t help but look in the mirror at the acne scars that cover her skin.

Or Tyson*, the 17-year-old who spends hours every day in the gym trying to build muscle mass because he feels he looks like a “toothpick.”

Tyson and Rebecca have been told time and time again by family, friends, and medical professionals that what they see is different from what others see, but they don’t believe it. Seeing is believing, right? But what if your eyes can deceive you?

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Long Attachment

BDD isn’t a new condition: It was first described by Italian psychiatrist Enrico Morselli in 1891, long before we became obsessed with our TikTok feeds.

He described people with “body dysmorphic disorder” (the former name for BDD) as people who are “suddenly overcome by the fear that their body may be deformed in the midst of everyday life, while talking, while reading, while sitting at a table – in fact anywhere and at any time throughout the day.”

BDD is thought to be caused by a complex interplay of biopsychosocial factors, including genetic factors, differences in brain structure and function, and a history of adverse childhood experiences such as bullying, abuse or neglect, which can lead individuals to feel ashamed about themselves and their bodies.

This tendency is often manifested or exacerbated by societal pressures around appearance — in fact, research supports the idea that attractive people often enjoy social advantages, such as being perceived as more trustworthy, healthy, confident, and intelligent.

This increases your chances of finding love, getting a job, or even earning a higher salary.

This often has a negative impact on the minds of people with BDD, making them feel like they have less chance of succeeding in life.While we cannot ignore that these benefits of beauty exist in our society, the pursuit of beauty at all costs can be harmful to both our physical and mental health.

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Unrealistic perfection

Although BDD existed before the development of social media, social media has certainly played a role in increasing the prevalence and severity of BDD.

The emphasis on sharing the “perfect” selfie, the use of filters, the various ways to augment or enhance an image, and powerful algorithms that ensure you (or your disability) are served up with the content that interests you most are the perfect combination to increase the focus on appearance.

Heavy social media use and photo editing have been linked to an increased risk of developing BDD, comparing appearances, and interest in undergoing surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

This relationship arises in a variety of ways. First, our perception of attractiveness and beauty is often influenced by our “visual diet.” After an extended period of consuming curated content showcasing the best angles, lighting, makeup and outfit choices, and artificial enhancements through the addition of filters, our perception of beauty can start to become biased towards highly idealized and edited images.

As a result, viewers may feel pressured to fit into this newly formed ideal of beauty and may attempt to conform by applying filters to themselves or seeking cosmetic procedures to better meet this standard.

Unfortunately, the positive effect a filter has on your self-image only lasts while it’s applied; once the filter is removed or you see yourself in the mirror in the real world, you may find yourself feeling unattractive or unacceptable.

An estimated 3 percent of people suffer from body dysmorphic disorder. – Photo credit: Getty

There is also an increased pressure to build a “personal brand” online, which can extend beyond just posting the “perfect” photos to achieving the most beautiful feed, the right captions, hashtags and themes. This can lead to a lack of authenticity and cause a widening disconnect between your “online self” and your “real self.”

Some people say their use of social media has increased social anxiety in their daily lives. They fear they will unintentionally “catfish” others who have become accustomed to looking a certain way in the online world. Thus, a personal brand or polished online persona can lead to feelings of embarrassment and shame about their true appearance and personality.

Once BDD has developed, the disorder is often maintained by harmful patterns of thinking and behavior.

For example, engaging in excessive behavior to check, camouflage, or change one’s appearance, including prolonged observation of oneself in the mirror or taking photographs from different angles, hiding oneself with loose clothing, hats, scarves, or glasses, beauty treatments, new hairstyles, or cosmetic procedures.

Many of these are common everyday behaviors that people undertake for self-expression and self-improvement. However, when taken to an extreme, these behaviors can lead to an excessive focus on appearance.

One study compared the mirror-gazing patterns of people with and without BDD and found that even healthy people who stared at themselves in the mirror for more than 10 minutes experienced heightened awareness of their “flaws” and increased levels of distress.

People with BDD experienced this intense distress even after only looking at themselves briefly, for around 25 seconds. These findings support the idea that people with BDD have different patterns of visual processing when looking at faces, often focusing on small details and individual features rather than the overall picture.

Similarly, if someone without BDD looks at themselves long enough, they too will begin to see themselves in parts rather than as a whole, which is one reason why the “Zoom effect” and the proliferation of video calls during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased self-image distress for many people.

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Extreme Measures

People with BDD seek out beauty and cosmetic treatments at a much higher rate than the general population to help them feel better about themselves.

Approximately 70% of people with BDD have previously undergone cosmetic surgeryThey account for up to 15% of all cosmetic surgery patients.

These high rates make sense: For Rebecca, who is concerned about the scars on her face, dermatological treatments like chemical peels and anti-wrinkle injections seem like the obvious solution.

Unfortunately, while most people who seek cosmetic surgery are satisfied with the results, studies have shown that this is not the case for people with BDD. In up to 91 percent of casesBecause your symptoms don’t change, you continue to focus on the areas that were treated and continue to work on ways to hide, check up, or cover up your “flaws.”

After undergoing cosmetic surgery, your concerns may change. People who were concerned about having a “hooked” nose before surgery may develop new concerns after rhinoplasty (nose surgery) about their nose appearing larger as a result of the surgery and about others criticizing them for having the surgery.

In other cases, BDD symptoms may actually worsen after treatment, making someone who is already self-conscious and vulnerable even more so.

Nearly three in ten adult men over the age of 18 have experienced insecurity about their body image.

It is an ethical and professional obligation for cosmetic surgeons to identify BDD in their patients before performing procedures, as patients with BDD may sue, complain, or demand compensation for procedures that do not meet their expectations.

It may be disheartening to learn that cosmetic surgery may not be the answer to your intense and painful obsession with appearance, but the good news is that effective, evidence-based treatments exist.

The National Institute for Health and Technology Assessment First-line treatment for BDD should include cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention (CBT-ERP) and the addition of psychiatric medication for moderate to severe cases.

CBT for BDD involves identifying unhelpful stereotypes and expectations you have about yourself and your appearance (such as “I have to always be well-dressed when I leave the house” or “No one will love me with a nose this size”) and learning new ways to move away from these thoughts or develop more flexible, helpful thought processes (such as “I want to find a partner who is attracted to my values, interests, and passions, not the look of my nose”)

Adding ERP involves gradually exposing the patient to situations, environments, or people that they would normally avoid, while at the same time trying not to engage in the compulsive behavior.

For example, Rebecca might work on gradually eliminating cosmetics from her daily routine so she can go out without wearing heavy makeup to hide her skin, while Tyson might work on reducing his training schedule or going to the beach with his friends without having to cover up with a t-shirt.

These exposure exercises are designed to help individuals learn that what they fear most (being judged or ridiculed for their appearance) may not happen. Through exposure rather than avoidance, they can begin to live more productive, fulfilling, and joyful lives.

Current estimates suggest that CBT-ERP: Up to 70% of people with BDD experience significant relief from their symptoms.When combined with drug therapy, this rises to 80 percent.

If you’re reading this and you feel like you’re worrying a little too much about the way you look, here are some things you can try…

How to Worry Less About Your Appearance

Mirror hygiene

Set a limit on the amount of time you spend looking at yourself. Unless you’re doing it for a specific purpose like putting on makeup or shaving, staring at yourself for more than 10 minutes can cause stress. Don’t avoid mirrors, but only look at them when necessary.

BDD is often associated with an excessive focus on appearance at the expense of other activities. Spending time with friends and family and doing the activities you love can boost your self-esteem and help you realize that your strengths go beyond just your appearance.

Social Media Detox

Look at your social media and notice how much of the content you’re consuming is highly edited images or content promoting fitness, beauty or cosmetic procedures. Unfollow or hide any content that makes you feel self-conscious, or set limits on the time and amount of time you spend on social media.

Stop looking for reassurance

Try not to talk to others about your appearance. Asking for feedback on your appearance can make you feel bad, whether the answer is positive or negative. Focus the conversation on more interesting topics.

Rather than chasing the perfect body, maybe it’s time to discover a broader sense of self-worth that can withstand the inevitable challenges of aging and growing up that we all experience, whether we like it or not.

*Names and descriptions do not reflect actual clients.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

How to Recognize and Conquer Body Dysmorphic Disorder

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If you have ever set a goal to change your appearance, know that you are not alone. Approximately 43% of UK adults aim to lose weight. For some, this goal may lead to more extreme methods such as cosmetic or plastic surgery.

However, when does this desire for self-improvement become problematic? About 3% of the general population may develop a condition known as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), where individuals have a constant urge to alter their physical appearance.

Individuals with BDD perceive significant flaws or defects in their appearance that may not be as noticeable to others. For example, Rebecca, a 36-year-old woman, believes she has a “moon face” due to acne scars, while Tyson, a 17-year-old, works out excessively because he feels too skinny. Despite reassurances from others, they continue to struggle with their self-perception.

BDD is not a new phenomenon and has been recognized since 1891. Factors such as genetics, brain function, and adverse childhood experiences can contribute to the development of BDD. Society’s focus on appearance can exacerbate this condition, as attractive individuals often receive social advantages.

Social media has also played a role in heightening BDD prevalence, with filters, editing tools, and curated content leading to unrealistic beauty standards. Excessive social media use has been linked to increased BDD symptoms and a desire for cosmetic procedures.

People with BDD often engage in extreme behaviors to alter their appearance, such as mirror gazing, excessive grooming, or seeking cosmetic treatments. However, studies have shown that cosmetic surgery may not provide lasting relief for individuals with BDD, and their symptoms may worsen post-surgery.

Cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention (CBT-ERP) is a recommended treatment for BDD, offering relief for up to 70% of individuals. It is essential for cosmetic surgeons to identify BDD in patients before performing procedures to prevent further distress.

Instead of fixating on appearance, individuals can focus on engaging in hobbies, limiting mirror time, and taking breaks from social media to improve self-esteem. Developing a broader sense of self-worth beyond physical appearance is key to overcoming BDD.

*Names and descriptions do not reflect actual clients.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Impact of Lymphatic “Weight Loss Massage” on Your Body

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There is a growing trend in the beauty industry to seek treatments for bloating and cellulite, with lymphatic drainage massage becoming increasingly popular among A-list celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, and Sean “Diddy” Combs.

These celebrities have touted the fast health benefits and weight loss advantages of this treatment, but what exactly does lymphatic drainage massage do?

Lymphatic drainage massage is unique as it targets the lymphatic system, setting it apart from other massage therapies such as Swedish, sports, deep tissue, and aromatherapy. Each type of massage offers different benefits, so your choice depends on your desired results.

The lymphatic system is a crucial part of the body’s immune system, consisting of tissues, organs like the spleen and bone marrow, and a network of interconnected blood vessels and lymph nodes. These components work together to filter out waste and maintain fluid balance, producing white blood cells to fight infections.

People opt for lymphatic drainage massage to combat cellulite as the treatment aids the absorption of fat and excess fluids back into the bloodstream.

Lymphatic drainage massage can benefit those dealing with lymphedema, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, deep vein thrombosis, and lymphatic buildup post-cancer treatment. While athletes benefit from preventative and restorative sports massages, lymphatic drainage massage can aid recovery after injury or surgery.

If your lymphatic system is not functioning optimally, you may experience swelling and puffiness in various parts of the body. Lymphatic drainage massage can help alleviate these symptoms by improving circulation, reducing swelling, and eliminating toxins.

While lymphatic drainage massage may improve the appearance of cellulite, it cannot completely remove it. The treatment may lead to temporary weight loss due to the elimination of excess fluids.

During a lymphatic drainage massage, the therapist employs gentle pressure techniques that do not cause discomfort or skin redness. The massage focuses on clearing and absorbing, enhancing skin health.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Effects of Death on the Human Body

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Studying corpses can provide valuable insights. Observing the decomposition process can enhance our knowledge of the nuances involved, aid in locating and identifying the deceased more accurately, and help determine the time of death.

Following death, the body undergoes a breakdown into simpler organic matter through biological and chemical processes. The duration of this process varies from weeks to years depending on several factors.

Chemical reactions in decomposition accelerate with rising temperatures. Conversely, bodies can remain relatively “fresh” for longer in cold conditions or during winter. Certain factors, like burial or placing the body in a coffin, can slow down decomposition. Insecticides near bodies may not deter insects but can delay their arrival, thus slowing decomposition indefinitely.

A study from Australia’s first ‘body farm’ revealed surprising movement in corpses during decay. Limbs, including arms, were seen to change positions even in advanced decomposition stages. Researchers suggest this movement is linked to the decomposition process as the body mummifies and ligaments dry out.

Stage 1: Rigor begins


The “fresh” phase lasts from days to a week. Pallor after death, where the body turns blue due to poor circulation, is the first visible change. Rigor mortis sets in approximately 2 to 6 hours after death, stiffening the body, then dissipates around 36 hours later.

If left unattended, insects arrive shortly after death, typically within 10 minutes.

Stage 2: Bloating


When gut bacteria multiply due to lack of control, they produce gas that causes bloating. In warm climates, bloating can occur within 2-3 days.

Stage 3: Skin falls off


Internal pressure causes fluid to push between skin layers, leading to skin sloughing off.

Stage 4: Marbling


Absence of oxygen leads hemoglobin to bind with sulfur, resulting in arteries and veins filled with a greenish-black substance – known as “marbling.”

Stage 5: Evacuation of liquefied organs


Increased pressure forces fluids and liquefied organs out of available openings, potentially causing eyeballs to protrude and even body explosions.

Stage 6: Insects multiply.


Chemicals released by the body attract flies, which lay eggs in and around openings, leading to maggot infestation feeding on flesh and organs.

Stage 7: Scavenger arrives


Other insects, beetles, birds, and carrion eaters are attracted to the body for consumption.

Stage 8: Skeletonization


Finally, bones undergo ossification with the complete loss of soft tissue. Bone bleaching and flaking typically begin about 9 months after exposure, with further separation over months and years due to environmental factors.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Future of Smart Textiles: Harnessing the Potential of Wearable Technology from the Human Body

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From T-shirts with changing messages to carpets that can detect your position, the future of smart textiles seems to come straight out of a sci-fi novel.

Researchers now claim they have created a smart fiber that can achieve just that, without the need for a battery pack.

A team of Chinese researchers have developed textile-based electronics that utilize the human body as part of a circuit to harness electromagnetic energy from the environment.

This innovation could pave the way for a “body-bound” fiber electronics technology that functions without electronic chips or batteries and could be applied in various scenarios.

Co-author Chengyi Hou from Donghua University in Shanghai explained, “When electromagnetic energy passes through a fiber, it is converted into different forms of energy, including visible light or radio waves. Therefore, the fiber not only emits light but also produces an electrical signal when in contact with the human body.”

Hou highlighted that these radio signals are programmable by manipulating different aspects of the system, such as the fiber’s contact area with the body and its diameter.

The team stated that this method resolves a major challenge in integrating electronic systems into textiles, which is the necessity of rigid components.

Hou mentioned, “We have successfully achieved mass production of this new type of fiber electronics, which is as thin and soft as traditional fibers. The next step is to implement it.”

The team has created prototypes like a wearable cloth display with a cloth keyboard, intended for individuals with hearing impairments to aid in communication, as well as textile controllers for gaming.

Additionally, they developed a wireless tactile carpet that illuminates underfoot, providing emergency lighting at night and wirelessly transmitting signals to control household devices like lights.

Researchers have created a carpet that can glow underfoot and transmit signals that can be used to control switches in appliances such as lights. Photo: Yang Weifeng

Read more about the study here. The team assures that the fiber is constructed from three layers of inexpensive materials, making it durable, washable, and sweat-resistant.

An accompanying article suggests that this technology can also be utilized in robots, robotic prosthetics, and capturing haptic information to enhance human interactions and object recognition.

Dr. Luigi Occhipinti, a research director at the University of Cambridge specializing in smart electronics, biosystems, and AI, acknowledged the potential of this approach.

He stated, “By being constantly surrounded by various electromagnetic fields, we are developing innovative electronic textiles with skin sensors and unconventional electronics, powered uniquely through energy harvesting. This has the potential to unlock a new realm of self-powered wearable electronics for continuous health monitoring.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

From Cixin Liu, author of “The Three Body Problem,” to Douglas Preston, this month’s top new science fiction discovery

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In The Truth of Areke, the last remaining free city in the Eternal Desert has been under siege for centuries.

Shutterstock / Liu Zishan

This month we have new works by several big name authors. Cixin Liu and Ann Leckie both have easy-to-read collections of short texts. It also depicts a dystopian future by award-winning Thea Obret, and a world where woolly mammoths have been brought back from the world. Douglas Preston's bestseller.He also loves the sound of Scott Alexander Howard's debut song another valleya town where past and future versions exist in the following valleys, and the space adventures of Sofia Samatar. Practice, horizon, and chain. There are so many things I want to read and not enough time…

This is a collection of short stories by science fiction author Liu, who is currently on the rise thanks to a new Netflix film. three body problem, from essays and interviews to short stories. I love this excerpt from an essay about science fiction fans. In it he calls us “mysterious aliens in the crowd.” They “jump like fleas from the future to the past and back again, floating like gas clouds between nebulae. In an instant we can reach the edge of the universe or tunnel into quarks.” or swim inside the core of a star.''Aren't we lucky to have a world like this on our shelves?

Leckie is a must-read author for me, and this is the first complete collection of her short stories, ranging from science fiction to fantasy. On the sci-fi side, we'll be able to dip in again. imperial latch And we're also promised to “learn the secrets of the mysterious Lake of Souls” in a brand new novel.

In the disastrous future, an 11-year-old girl arrives in Morningside with her mother. Once a luxury high-rise, Morningside is now another crumbling part of Island City, half submerged under water. Obrecht won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2011 for her debut novel. tiger's wife.

Samatar won all kinds of awards for his first novel. Stranger in Olondria. Her latest work depicts the story of a boy who grew up working on a mining ship in the stars, but whose life changes when he is given the opportunity to receive an education at the ship's university. Sounds interesting.

A boy grows up working on a mining ship surrounded by starry skies in The Practice, Horizon, and The Chain.

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It's set in a Rocky Mountain valley, where guests at the luxury resort can see woolly mammoths, giant ground sloths and Irish moose brought back from extinction through genetic engineering. But then a series of murders begins, and the two investigators must find out what's really going on.this is what it looks like Jurassic Park-It looks like a lot of fun. And if you want more mammoth-related reading, try my colleague Michael Le Page's excellent explanation of why they won't be coming back anytime soon.

mania Written by Lionel Shriver

The award-winning author we have to talk about kevin Reflecting her thoughts on the so-called “culture wars” in her fiction, she imagines a world where the “spiritual equality movement” is at its peak, and “the worst thing you can do is call someone 'stupid'.” There is.

This speculative novel alternates endlessly through the wilderness, with the same town to the east 20 years ahead of its time, and the same town to the west 20 years behind. Border crossings are only allowed on “memorial tours,'' which allow people to see the dead in towns where they are still alive. Odile, 16, will take a seat on the Conseil Commission, which can decide who can travel across borders. I love this sound.

Many may wonder if Marvel's superhero stories are really science fiction, but I'm leaning toward the multiverse aspect of this here and including it because it seems kind of interesting. This is the first installment in a new series that reimagines the origins of some of our biggest heroes. Here, Thor died defending Earth from Loki's pranks, and the Norse trickster god, exiled to our planet, is now dealing with the consequences.

the second book of eternal desert The series is set 500 years in the future. Ajungo's lie, which follows a junior peacekeeping force in the last remaining free city in the Eternal Desert, which has been under siege for centuries. It was actually released in March, but I missed it then, and science fiction contributor Sally Addy introduced it as a title to watch this year, so I'm introducing it now.

abnormality Written by Andrei Nikolaidis, translated by Will Firth

On New Year's Eve, the last year of humanity, various stories unfold, from a high-ranking minister with blood on his hands to a nurse with a secret. Later, in a cabin in the Alps, a musicologist and his daughter, the last people left on Earth, try to make sense of this catastrophe.according to independent personNicolaidis makes “Samuel Beckett look aggressively cheerful,'' and I admit that I sometimes want to see stories like that.

In this techno-thriller, Mal is a free AI, unconcerned with the conflicts going on between humans, but is trapped inside the body of a cyborg mercenary and is responsible for keeping the girl she died protecting. It will be.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Unexpected Advantages of an Asymmetric Face, Body, and Brain

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When you look in the mirror, you may notice slight imbalances in your facial features, such as your nose crooked to the left, a wrinkle that only appears under one eye, or your ears slightly higher than the other. .

For centuries, this lack of perfect balance has been thought to detract from our beauty, and there are a number of services aimed at “fixing” it, from photo filters to cosmetic surgery. But asymmetry is built into the human body and brain, and for good reason. Moreover, new research suggests that it has little effect on your appeal to others.

First, lopsided arrangement of our internal organs. For most people, the heart, stomach, and spleen are all on the left side of the spinal cord, and the liver and gallbladder are on the right side. This makes more efficient use of thoracic and abdominal space compared to a structure that aligns all organs to the spine.

Why is the human brain asymmetrical?

What about your brain? Although her two hemispheres may appear to be reflective of each other, corresponding areas on each side have different responsibilities. You will notice the effect this has on your movements. If you're right-handed, it's because the left hemisphere of your brain, which is connected to the right side of your body, is slightly more specialized in controlling the fine muscles of your fingers, increasing your manual dexterity. .

You may be surprised to find that this “lateralization” is seen in many fields…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Researchers can now estimate your biological age based on a snapshot of your body

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It is now possible to measure a person’s biological age, which refers to the wear and tear of the body’s cells, as opposed to the chronological age based on the number of years lived. Chinese scientists have developed a new method to predict biological age using artificial intelligence to analyze 3D images of the face, tongue, and retina.

This approach provides a way to estimate biological age more accurately than previous methods that primarily relied on DNA or blood tests and brain scans. By combining images of the face, tongue, and retina, scientists have created a model that can accurately predict biological age. This allows for easier, more accessible, and less invasive methods to estimate a person’s biological age compared to traditional tests.

Research from China’s Macau University of Science and Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University involved testing this model on healthy individuals and those with chronic diseases. The results showed that the biological age of individuals with chronic diseases was significantly higher than their chronological age compared to healthy individuals, indicating the potential impact of chronic diseases on aging.

Furthermore, this new method could also be used to assess the effectiveness of anti-aging treatments, such as diet, exercise, and longevity drugs. Dr. Andrew Steele, a longevity expert, highlighted the potential for using photos to evaluate the efficacy of anti-aging strategies and speed up clinical trials in the future.

About our experts

Dr. Andrew Steele is a scientist, author, and presenter, known for his work in the field of aging. He is the author of Ageless: The new science of growing older without getting older. After earning his doctorate in physics, Steele transitioned into biology, using computers to decipher human DNA at the Francis Crick Institute in London.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Starfish possess only a substantial, compressed head and lack a body.

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A juvenile Patilia miniata starfish with fluorescent staining highlighting the skeleton, muscles, and nervous system.

Laurent Formery

Scientists trying to figure out where the starfish’s head is located have come to the surprising conclusion that the starfish is practically the entire body of the animal. The discovery not only solves this long-standing mystery, but also helps us understand how evolution created the dramatic diversity of animal forms on Earth.

Starfish, also known as sea stars, belong to a group of animals called echinoderms, which includes sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Their strange body design has long puzzled biologists. Most animals, including humans, have distinct cranial and caudal ends, and a line of symmetry runs down the middle of the body, dividing it into two halves of its mirror image. Animals with this bilateral symmetry are called bilateral animals.

Echinoderms, on the other hand, have five lines of symmetry radiating from a central point and no physically obvious heads or tails. However, they are closely related to animals like us, having evolved from bilaterally symmetrical ancestors. Even larvae are bilaterally symmetrical and then radically reorganize their bodies as they metamorphose into adults.

These large differences make it difficult for scientists to find and compare equivalent body parts in bilateral animals to understand how echinoderms evolved. “Morphology tells us very little,” he says. Laurent Formery at Stanford University in California. “That’s too strange.”

Formalie and his colleagues decided to examine a set of genes known to direct head-to-tail control. All bilateralist organizations. In these animals, these genes are turned on and expressed in stripes in the outer layers of the developing embryo. The genes expressed in each stripe define which point it is on the cranio-caudal axis.

The aim was to see if gene expression patterns could reveal the hidden “molecular anatomy” of echinoderms. “This particular gene suite is ideal for investigating the diversity of the most extreme forms of animals,” says the team leader. chris lowe, also at Stanford University. “I think echinoderms are a very extreme experiment in how to use that bidirectional network to produce very, very different body plans.”

To the team’s surprise, the gene that determines the head edge of bilateral animals was expressed in a line running down the center of each star star’s lower arm. The next leading gene is expressed on both sides of this line, and so on.

Even more bizarrely, genes normally expressed in the trunk of bilateral animals were missing from the animals’ outer layers. This suggests that the starfish abandoned its trunk region and released its outer layer to evolve in a new direction, Formery said.

The findings show that “the bodies of echinoderms, at least with respect to their external surfaces, are essentially lip-walking heads.” Thurston Lacari from the University of Victoria, Canada, was not involved in the study. Animals like us may have swam away to escape predation. “Echinoderms didn’t need trunks because they were hunched over and armored,” Lacari says.

The idea that echinoderms are “head-like” animals is “interesting and powerful,” he says. Andreas Heyland at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. This raises some very important and fundamental questions about how ecological factors shape the evolution of anatomy, he says. “Finding the underlying conserved patterns provides important insights into how development evolves.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com