How brainless sea sponges use sunset as a cue to prepare for metamorphosis
Sea sponges are some of the world’s simplest animals – but even so, the rhythm of night and day kicks off a crucial stage of their life cycle.
Sea sponges, despite being simple organisms with no brain, are able to anticipate and prepare for metamorphosis by using environmental cues such as sunset. These sponges begin their life as larvae, swimming freely and searching for a suitable algae to settle on, eventually transforming into a shapeless, spongy lump. Our research reveals that when the larvae are still swimming, the sunset triggers changes in their DNA, priming specific regions that encode genes related to settlement and metamorphosis.
These regions become accessible, allowing the dormant genes to be read and activated, enabling the sponge to rapidly transform into an adult within just 30 minutes. This anticipatory behavior, which occurs without a brain, is a remarkable feat for the sponge and may provide insights into fundamental gene functions that are shared across diverse animal species, including humans.
By studying these ancient creatures, we can gain valuable insights into early animal evolution and how life adapted to the planet's daily cycles.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
