Our Ovary Blueprint Is Ancient, According To Sea Stars

Unexpected Genetic Links Between Humans and Sea Stars

At first, bat sea stars might appear to have little in common with humans. These orange, multi-limbed creatures crawling along the ocean floor seem worlds apart from us. However, recent research reveals a surprising connection: human and sea star ovaries exhibit striking similarities in their genetic makeup, cellular structures, and signaling mechanisms, despite diverging on the evolutionary tree millions of years ago. This intriguing study was featured in the journal Nature Communications.