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422-million-year-old ancient animal cell helps scientists create a mouse | The team uncovered that choanoflagellates possess versions of the Sox and POU genes—key drivers of pluripotency.
The research highlights how evolution repurposes existing genetic tools, turning them into versatile drivers of innovation.
“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 Alex de Mendoza of Queen Mary University. These ancient roles were later co-opted by multicellular organisms to drive stem cell formation and tissue specialization, offering a fascinating glimpse into the genetic “recycling” that shaped life’s complexity. “Studying the ancient roots of these genetic tools lets us innovate with a clearer view of how pluripotency mechanisms can be tweaked or optimised,” said Dr. Ralf Jauch of The University of Hong Kong.
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