Evolution: ctenophore genomes and the origin of neurons

Heather Marlow; Detlev Arendt

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.057

Evolution: ctenophore genomes and the origin of neurons

Curr Biol. 2014 Aug 18;24(16):R757-61. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.057.

Authors

Heather Marlow¹, Detlev Arendt²

Affiliations

¹ Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69012 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: marlow@embl.de.
² Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69012 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: arendt@embl.de.

PMID: 25137591
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.057

Abstract

Recent sequencing of ctenophore genomes opens a new era in the study of this unique and phylogenetically distant group. The presence of neurodevelopmental genes, pre- and postsynaptic modules, and transmitter molecules is consistent with a single origin of neurons.

Publication types

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MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Evolution*
Cell Lineage / genetics*
Ctenophora / cytology*
Ctenophora / genetics*
Evolution, Molecular*
Genome / genetics*
Nervous System*