|
|
Article: Scientists compare genes of sea squirts.
- Article from:
- Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA)
- Article date:
- October 11, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Contra Costa Times. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: Andrea Widener
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ In a bubbling aquarium in a comfortably cluttered lab live a colony of what look strangely like large, olive green garden slugs.
Despite their elementary look, these simple sea-dwelling animals called sea squirts are surprisingly similar to people in at least one important way.
At an early stage of development, sea squirts grow like humans and other animals with spinal cords and backbones. Scientists hope that by studying sea squirt DNA they can learn more about human development and basic evolution.
These tube-like sea creatures are just one example of a revolution in the biological ...