NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — For centuries, the question of whether starfish possess a head and, if so, which part of their peculiar anatomy can be attributed to it has intrigued nature enthusiasts and professional scientists alike. The enigmatic characteristics of these marine creatures have led to varying speculations about their bodily structure. Now, a study conducted by American and British biologists offers a definitive answer to this longstanding conundrum.
Starfish belong to the echinoderm group of invertebrate animals, a category that also includes sea urchins, holothurians (sea cucumbers), and sea lilies. What distinguishes starfish from the rest is their distinctive star-shaped configuration, characterized by ray-like limbs. While the quintessential starfish possesses five arms or rays, there are exceptions with fewer or more arms (three, four, six, or even more).
In the case of many creatures, such as worms or fish, the identification of their head and tail is relatively straightforward. However, starfish present a unique challenge due to the versatility of their limbs, any of which can function as the leading part when navigating across the seabed. This has raised questions regarding which part of their body constitutes the front and which serves as the rear. There have even been speculations suggesting that starfish might lack a head altogether. Yet, a breakthrough study published in the journal Nature provides clarity on this matter.
A collaborative team of scientists hailing from Stanford, the University of California at Berkeley (USA), the University of Southampton (UK), and various other research institutions embarked on a mission to unravel the age-old mystery surrounding echinoderms.
By employing advanced molecular and genomic techniques like microtomography and cytological hybridization (in situ hybridization), researchers subjected the sea star species Patiria miniata to meticulous scrutiny. This comprehensive analysis revealed genetic signatures associated with head cell development—typically found in other animals—distributed across the central and middle portions of each limb-ray. In contrast, genes that regulate the growth of the tail region were situated along the perimeter.
What’s even more astonishing is the absence of gene structures related to the development of a “torso” in starfish tissues. This suggests that starfish, over the course of evolution, have transformed into creatures with characteristics resembling a head. As the lead author of the study, Laurent Formery, aptly articulated it, “The sea star appears to have no body at all, and the most appropriate description for this animal is a head crawling along the seabed.”
Nonetheless, some of the peculiar-looking predecessors of modern starfish have left behind fossilized remains that suggest the presence of a torso. This intriguing discovery raises a multitude of new questions for scientists, providing a wellspring of inspiration for future research endeavors.
In particular, researchers are eager to investigate whether the genetic structure found in starfish can be traced in other echinoderms like sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Furthermore, they hope that delving into the mysteries of starfish evolution can shed light on the development of animal nervous systems, offering insights that might drive innovations in the field of medicine and broaden our approaches to addressing various human diseases.
In summary, this groundbreaking study has definitively addressed the age-old question of whether starfish have a head and has unraveled a fascinating facet of their evolutionary journey. It underscores the intriguing intersection of science and nature, raising new inquiries and inviting further exploration into the realm of these captivating marine organisms.
—
Online:
News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.
To eliminate any confusion arising from different time zones and daylight saving changes, all times displayed on our platforms are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).