A Strange Genetic Link Between Humans And Sea Anemones Was Just Confirmed

 

It has just been confirmed that the same gene that allows humans to hear is found in sea anemone and allows them to sense touch. An article on Sciencealert highlights the key information from the study. Essentially, it confirms that the evolution of our senses goes back hundreds of millions of years. This is because sea anemones are the closest relative to animals with bilateral symmetry. It was confirmed that this gene is responsible for sea anemones' sense of touch by knocking out the gene thought to be responsible, pou-iv. By knocking this gene out, the researchers found that the sea anemones' tentacles grew improperly and they did not respond to touch. This is an important discovery, and further research to find if the gene is found in ancestors even farther still needs to be done. 

Scientists find 'oldest human ancestor'

Researchers have recently discovered the earliest known ancestor of humans. They have claimed that this fossil traces back to over 540-million years ago, and was well preserved. This microscopic sea animal is the earliest known to the evolutionary path that led to a fish and eventually to humans. The scientist behind this say that Saccorhytus is believed to be the most primitive of the deuterostome family. Researchers concluded that Saccorhytus was about a millimeter in size, and is believed to have burrowed itself between grains of sand on the sea bed. Saccorhytus was also covered with a thin like, flexible skin and muscles, leading scientist to conclude that it moved by contracting its muscles and making it twist and turn. The researchers say that its most striking feature is its immense mouth, relative to the rest of its body. Scientist say that it probably ate by sucking food particles, or even other small microscopic creatures. 
I believe this is an amazing find for scientist because it is the oldest deuterostome; surpassing the other recently discovered deuterostome, dating about to 520-million years ago. What I found interesting is that the researchers were unable to find any evidence that the animal had an anus, which suggests that it consumed food and excreted from the mouth. As I can see,  this not only gives us understanding into the very first stages of the evolution that led to the fish, but to us. 

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38800987
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature21072.html