Sea urchins genetically close to humans - 10 November

SCIENTISTS have sequenced the genome of the sea urchin, an invertebrate surprisingly similar to humans, a step that could help develop new treatment for human disease such as cancer, a new study says.

After identifying the 23,300 genes of the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (California purple sea urchin) genome, researchers found humans shared 7077 of their genes with the arguably different-looking brainless and limbless invertebrate.

The genetic ties were far closer than scientists expected and make the sea urchin a closer genetic cousin of man than the worm or fruit fly, the study in the November 10 issue of Science found.

More at http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20733535-1702,00.html

Contributed by Tim Hochgrebe added 2006-11-12