Friday, August 6, 2010

Braintenance: Was One Of Your (Distant) Relatives A Sponge?

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Braintenance:
Was One Of Your (Distant) Relatives A Sponge?

Friends (and Young Lovers):

I did not write the article which follows, but found it almost as fascinating as I found it to be hysterical. You should read it. What are the implications?

What are the funniest and most hideously simplistic conclusions that one might jump to?

One that occurs to me is that by the associative principle, monkeys and sponges probably had a common ancestor, who could both swim and climb trees. Another is that if any of this genetics stuff is true (and quite a bit of it is), should we, as Human Beings be better able to clean up after ourselves?

The article which follows comes to us courtesy of AFP (I'm still sore from laughing...I'm sorry....)

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Scientists find sea sponges share human genes

AFP/File – An international team of scientists have revealed that sea sponges (pictured) share almost 70 percent …

Fri Aug 6, 5:58 am ET

SYDNEY (AFP) – Mankind may be descended from apes but Australian scientists have found proof of links much closer to the sea floor, with a study revealing that sea sponges share almost 70 percent of human genes.

Genetic sequencing of sea sponges from the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef showed the ancient marine animal shared many of its genes with humans, including a large number typically associated with disease and cancer.

Lead researcher Bernard Degnan, of the University of Queensland, said the findings "would shed light on a whole range of different things," and could lay the foundation for breakthroughs in cancer and stem cell research.

"Sponges have what's (considered) the 'Holy Grail' of stem cells," Degnan told AFP.
Exploring the genetic function of sponge stem cells could provide "deep and important connections" to the genes that influenced human stem cell biology, he said.

"(It) might actually inform the way we think about our own stem cells and how we might be able to use them in future medical applications," he said.

The study -- published in the journal "Nature" this week -- is the result of more than five years of research by an international team of scientists.

It required the extraction of "really pure DNA" from sponge embryos and a complex sequencing exercise, Degnan said.
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Faithfully,

Douglas Castle

p.s. What about Bob? Sarcastic smile