From fish to humans: The study reveals how the fins have transformed into legs

(scienceinfo.net) - From fish to humans: A study has revealed how to make fins become legs.

Vertebrate animals turn to live on the ground instead of just living in the water is a major event of life history on earth. Currently, the researchers who presented the report in the December issue of Cellular Development Development Cell magazine provide evidence that the development of hands and feet occurs through the addition of new DNA elements, This DNA activates special genes.

"First, and most importantly, this finding helps us understand the power of gene expression changes on shaping our bodies ," said Dr. José Luis Gomez-Skarmeta CSIC-Pablo de Olavide University. -Junta de Andalucía in Seville, Spain says "Secondly, many genetic diseases are associated with a 'deformation' of organs in our bodies during development. In the case of genes involved in limb formation, their abnormal function is associated with diseases such as synpolydactyly and hand-foot-genital syndrome.

To understand how the fins might have developed into limbs, researchers led by Dr. Gómez-Skarmeta and his colleagues at the institute, Dr. Fernando Casares added the Hoxd13 gene , a closed gene. Important role in distinguishing parts of the body, into the fins head of a embryo of zebrafish. Surprisingly, this has led to the creation of new cartilage tissue and reduced fin tissue - outstanding changes that adapt to the appearance of the development of land animal fauna.

The researchers wondered whether the incredible gene Hoxd13 controlled factors that could increase Hoxd13 gene expression in the past to cause similar effects during the evolution of the limbs. They turned to studying DNA control factors, which are known to regulate the activation of Hoxd13 in mouse embryos and are not present in fish.

"We found that in zebrafish, the control factor for Hoxd13 mice has the ability to control gene expression in peripheral profile fins. This result indicates the ability of the molecular organ to control this control factor. It was also present in the last common ancestor of finfish and legs and was proved by traces in zebrafish, ' Dr Casares said.