In a groundbreaking study published in June 2025, researchers at the University of Vienna unveiled a surprising discovery about sea anemones. These marine creatures, traditionally viewed as radially symmetrical, utilize a molecular mechanism similar to that found in bilateral animals to establish their dorsal-ventral body axis.
The research focused on the starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis), revealing that the "shuttling BMP" signaling system plays a crucial role in embryonic development. This system, involving bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), acts as a molecular messenger, guiding cells to differentiate into specific tissues based on their location within the body.
Furthermore, the study identified a modulator of BMP signaling, ZSWIM4-6, which acts as a transcriptional co-repressor. This discovery sheds new light on the evolution of body plans in early animals, suggesting that the "shuttling BMP" mechanism evolved much earlier than previously thought, dating back over 600 million years. This research opens new avenues for understanding how body plans evolved in early animals.