Study of Simple Sea Animal Brains Could Help Cure Neural Disorders
- 10 years ago
While studying the simple sea animals called comb jellies, an international team of researchers has found a unique kind of brain development that might lead to new treatment for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
While studying the simple sea animals called comb jellies, an international team of researchers has found a unique kind of brain development that might lead to new treatment for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
According to Professor Leonid Moroz from the University of Florida’s Department of Neuroscience, who led the study, the molecular makeup of comb jellies is complex and different from all other animals in the way they develop neural transmitters and genes.
Moroz is quoted as saying: “All other animals have the same chemical language and these guys have completely different language. It's not only different grammar. It's a different alphabet.”
For example, the neurochemical dopamine, which controls brain activity in humans and other animals, is not used by the comb jellies.
This study has led to Moroz calling for a reclassification of the animal kingdom’s tree of life to include a separate branch for the comb jellies.
Results of the study show that the comb jelly brain can regenerate in less than four days, and the researchers regenerated the brain of one comb jelly four times over the course of the study.
While studying the simple sea animals called comb jellies, an international team of researchers has found a unique kind of brain development that might lead to new treatment for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
According to Professor Leonid Moroz from the University of Florida’s Department of Neuroscience, who led the study, the molecular makeup of comb jellies is complex and different from all other animals in the way they develop neural transmitters and genes.
Moroz is quoted as saying: “All other animals have the same chemical language and these guys have completely different language. It's not only different grammar. It's a different alphabet.”
For example, the neurochemical dopamine, which controls brain activity in humans and other animals, is not used by the comb jellies.
This study has led to Moroz calling for a reclassification of the animal kingdom’s tree of life to include a separate branch for the comb jellies.
Results of the study show that the comb jelly brain can regenerate in less than four days, and the researchers regenerated the brain of one comb jelly four times over the course of the study.