Sea Urchin Genome

Posted on November 10, 2006  Comments (1)

Sea Urchin photo

Sea Urchin Genome Reveals Striking Similarities to Humans by Stefan Lovgren, National Geographic News:

The scientists identified more than 23,000 genes in the 814 million base pairs, or “letters,” of DNA code taken from the sea urchin.

The sea urchin represents the first sequenced genome from the echinoderms, which are the closest known relatives of the chordates, the group that includes vertebrates, animals with spinal columns. The genome includes analogs to many essential human genes that were previously thought to be exclusive to vertebrates.

The eyeless sea urchin also has genes associated with taste, smell, hearing, balance—and surprisingly, even vision.

Related: Altered Oceans: the Crisis at SeaWhere Bacteria Get Their GenesThe Brine Lake Beneath the Sea$10 Million X Prize for DNA DecodingThe World’s Smallest GenomeOcean LifeDecoding the Sea Urchin Genome (NPR)

One Response to “Sea Urchin Genome”

  1. CuriousCat: Antarctic Robo-sub
    April 1st, 2007 @ 8:49 am

    […] “The submersible, which when not at sea is based at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, is built to withstand enormous pressure and can dive to depths of 6.5km (four miles).” […]

Leave a Reply