116 GENOME EDITING


Ghosts in the genomes


A team of scientists from the University of St Andrews Scottish Oceans Institute and the Sars Centre at the University of Bergen, have revealed that the earliest animal, living over 600 million years ago, was more complex than previously thought.


In a new study, published in scientific


journal Nature, researchers report the analysis of new genome sequences in sponge species that reveal the presence of genes previously unknown from so early in animal evolution. The findings build on previous


research from the University of St Andrews suggesting that important genes controlling animal development


had been lost from some sponges, leaving behind ghost loci – otherwise known as ‘neighbourhoods’. Similar to the genomic


neighbourhoods in humans and other animals, these are ghost-like because the developmental gene has died and disappeared, leaving a ghostly outline of its surroundings – meaning that the earliest animal was genetically more complex than previously appreciated. Sponges are one of the earliest


branches of the animal tree of life and are key organisms in understanding last common ancestor of all animals. With newly sequenced sponge


genomes, the mystery of the ‘ghost loci’ Index of Advertisers


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has now been solved. The new research reports sponges with the ‘lost’ genes now present in the neighbourhoods that are ghost loci in the previously sequenced sponges. Dr David Ferrier, of the University of


St Andrews Scottish Oceans Institute, and the team studied key genes known as Hox and ParaHox, which are renowned for building the bodies of nearly all modern day animals, including the development of our nervous systems and guts – they can also be disrupted in diseases such as cancer and diabetes. By analysing the homeobox genes of


two sponge species that make calcified spicules – or spines found all over the


body wall – the researchers found a clear ParaHox gene called Cdx. In one of the sponges, the Cdx gene is expressed in sponge cells that are thought to be the evolutionary equivalent to cells found in our guts. This is also where the human Cdx is expressed, being linked to some colon cancers when it goes wrong. Dr David Ferrier, lead researcher


at the University of St Andrews, said: “Finding a bona fide Cdx gene really is like finding the bullet from the smoking gun and can finally lay a lot of the controversy to rest.”


For more information, visit www.st-andrews.ac.uk


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