Humans and starfish have something surprising in common. Here’s what we can learn from them | BBC Discover Wildlife
Scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA, have identified sea stars (also known as starfish) as perfect candidates to investigate the processes behind organ development.
In a study published in the journal Discover Developmental Biology, Margherita Perillo and her colleagues at the MBL looked closely at the Forbes sea star (Asterias forbesi). It’s found in shallow waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico.
Despite being extensively studied for over 70 years, the embryonic and larval development of this sea star hasn’t been clearly described until now.
Many species of sea star develop a hollow tube during the larval stage that expands like a balloon, and acts as precursor to their later organs. Perillo and her team have named this the hydro-vascular organ (HVO).
To find out whether different species build the HVO the same way, the researchers tracked its formation in the Forbes sea star (Asterias forbesi), as well as the bat sea star (Patiria miniata) and the red comb sea star (Astropecten aranciacus).