Spiny creature's genome insight (BBC) {sea urchin genome sequenced}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Molly Bentley

Scientists have unravelled the genetic code of the sea urchin, an animal whose evolutionary lineage may be key to understanding the relationship of humans and other vertebrates to invertebrates.

Analysis of the genome of the male California purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) has revealed many genes previously thought unique to vertebrates, along with an innovative immune system and a surprising array of sensory proteins.
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"It is the first time in a while that a genome has been sequenced that's not closely related to another genome that's already been sequenced," explained the molecular biologist who was closely involved with the sequencing project, along with researchers at the Human Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC) at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The results, appearing this week in the journal Science, with more than 40 more papers to follow in the December issue of Developmental Biology, are the culmination of three years of work by an international team of 240 scientists.
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"Any snorkeler who has ever marvelled at the spherical, almost otherworldly, symmetry of the sea urchin will be amazed to learn that this organism, so different in habitat and body plan from ourselves, actually shares a substantial number of the same genes and pathways," said Francis Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) which helped fund the project.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6130244.stm