How Shark Embryos Are Revealing The Evolutionary Origins Of Faces
Researchers have gained new insights into the evolutionary origins of faces by studying shark embryos. A study led by Markéta Kaucká at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology utilized advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing and micro-CT scanning on small-spotted catshark embryos. The findings reveal that while sharks share fundamental genetic programs for neural crest cell development with other vertebrates, the cellular organization and migration patterns differ, with shark embryos appearing to form facial structures around the eyes first, unlike the front-to-back development seen in bony vertebrates. AI
