A group of scientists surprised to learn that the coral reefs, one of the oldest life forms on Earth, has the same genes with humans. The similarity of genes making up the body reaches 70 percent.
According to a study recently published in the journal Nature, the research team had to sort the genome of an organism that has 650 million-year-old for five years.
"Coral reefs have a low level of similarity with the animal," said Kenneth S. Kosik, researchers from the University of California-Santa Barbara, as quoted by TG Daily, December 10, 2010.
"For example, they do not have a lot of neurons. However, the genome of coral reefs to prove the existence of many genes in neurons, "he said.
Other researchers from Australia, who have completed a genetic observations on coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef also find something similar.
"DNA is the same between humans and coral reefs cover a number of DNA are commonly associated with disease and cancer," said Bernard Degnan, researchers from the University of Queensland. "This opens opportunities for a breakthrough in cell research and treat cancer," he said.
Degnan said, by observing the cells of coral reefs, possibly we can get information about the ins and outs of our own body cells and how we can make use of coral reef cells for medical applications in the future.
"Protecting coral reefs in the ocean is very important for their preservation and in the marine ecosystem," said Degnan. "However, this finding is expected to make more people see the other benefits provided by coral reefs, which are beneficial to human medical research," he said.
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