Scientists have created a mouse using ancient molecular tools that are older than animal life. An international team of researchers achieved an unprecedented milestone with the creation of mouse stem cells capable of generating a living, breathing mouse

The mouse on the left is a chimeric with dark eyes and patches of black fur, a result of stem cells derived from a choanoflagellate Sox gene. The wildtype mouse on the right has red eyes and all white fur. The colour difference is due to genetic markers used to distinguish the stem cells, not a direct effect of the gene itself. Credit: Gao Ya and Alvin Kin Shing Lee, with thanks to the Centre for Comparative Medicine Research (CCMR) for their support.

New research unveils the evolutionary origins of stem cells through a groundbreaking experiment that successfully created a mouse using ancient genetic tools.

Published in Nature Communications, an international team of researchers has achieved a groundbreaking milestone: the creation of mouse stem cells capable of generating a fully developed mouse. This was accomplished using genetic tools derived from a unicellular organism with which we share a common ancestor predating animals. This breakthrough not only reshapes our understanding of the genetic origins of stem cells but also offers a new perspective on the evolutionary connections between animals and their ancient single-celled relatives.

In an experiment that sounds like science fiction, Dr. Alex de Mendoza of Queen Mary University of London collaborated with researchers from The University of Hong Kong to use a gene found in choanoflagellates, a single-celled organism related to animals, to create stem cells which they then used to give rise to a living, breathing mouse.

This is an intriguing development in the field of genetics and developmental biology. Scientists have successfully introduced a gene from a single-celled organism, a choanoflagellate, into mouse stem cells. This gene, which predates the evolution of animals, has been shown to influence the development of the mouse embryo.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. It could provide new insights into the early stages of animal development and evolution. Additionally, it may open up new avenues for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
However, it’s important to note that this is still early-stage research. While the results are promising, more studies are needed to fully understand the implications of this discovery.

What is gene science

Gene science, also known as genetics, is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms. It explores how traits are inherited from one generation to the next and how genes influence the development and function of living things.
Key Concepts in Gene Science:

• Genes: The basic unit of heredity, composed of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). They contain the instructions for building and maintaining an organism.
• DNA: A complex molecule that carries genetic information. It’s structured as a double helix and consists of four nucleotide bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).
• Chromosomes: Thread-like structures made of DNA and proteins that carry genetic information. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
• Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism, including the specific alleles (variants) of each gene.
• Phenotype: The observable physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism, resulting from the interaction between genotype and environment.
  Applications of Gene Science:
• Medicine:
• Genetic testing and counseling
• Development of targeted therapies
• Gene therapy
• Agriculture:
• Crop improvement
• Genetic modification
• Forensic Science:
• DNA fingerprinting
• Paternity testing
• Evolutionary Biology:
• Understanding the history of life
• Studying genetic diversity
  Gene science has revolutionized our understanding of biology and has significant implications for various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and forensics.

By successfully creating a mouse using molecular tools derived from our single-celled relatives, we’re witnessing an extraordinary continuity of function across nearly a billion years of evolution,” said Dr de Mendoza. “The study implies that key genes involved in stem cell formation might have originated far earlier than the stem cells themselves, perhaps helping pave the way for the multicellular life we see today.”

Evolutionary Roots of Stem Cell Machinery

The study traces how early versions of Sox and POU proteins, which bind DNA and regulate other genes, were used by unicellular ancestors for functions that would later become integral to stem cell formation and animal development. “Choanoflagellates don’t have stem cells, they’re single-celled organisms, but they have these genes, likely to control basic cellular processes that multicellular animals probably later repurposed for building complex bodies,” explained Dr de Mendoza.

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