The nervous system is our interface with the world. We use it to sense, process and react to the environment. How this complex system arose during animal evolution remains uncertain. Sponges can also sense and react to external stimuli - but without the benefit of nerves. Instead the point of interface may lie at primary cilia, which line the canal system and can sense changes in flow. Interestingly, a collection of genes central to the functionality of the bilaterian nervous system is also present in the sponge genome, but we do not know what role they play in poriferan biology. My project aims to test whether these genes underlie the development of primary cilia in sponges by analyzing the location and timing of their expression. Understanding the degree to which such genes are functionally conserved may yield some hints about the evolution of the nervous system.
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