In a groundbreaking study, scientists have created a mouse using stem cells powered by genes that originated from ancient single-celled organisms, revealing a hidden evolutionary link between modern animals and their most early ancestors.
The international research team, led by Dr. Alex de Mendoza of Queen Mary University of London and collaborators from The University of Hong Kong, discovered that genetic material from choanoflagellates —unicellular organisms considered the closest living relatives of animals, could replace key mammalian genes in the stem cell creation process.
The research offers not only a surprising look into how life evolved, but also potential new pathways for stem cell therapies in regenerative medicine.
Study Shows Mouse Created Using Ancient Gene from Unicellular Ancestor
The chimeric mouse (left) shows dark eyes and black fur due to stem cells from the choanoflagellate Sox gene. The wildtype mouse (right) has red eyes and white fur. The color difference is due to genetic markers, not the gene itself.(Gao Ya and Alvin Kin Shing Lee, with thanks to the Centre for Comparative Medicine Research (CCMR).
The peer-reviewed research, published in Nature Communications , highlights the use of early Sox and POU genes from choanoflagellates to replace animal versions of the same genes in mouse cells. These genes are critical for pluripotency , the ability of stem cells to transform into any cell type in the body.
In the experiment, scientists replaced the mouse’s native Sox2 gene with the choanoflagellate version. Despite the vast evolutionary gap—nearly a billion years—the gene still triggered pluripotency and allowed the creation of stem cells.
From Cell to Chimeric Mouse
To test whether these reprogrammed stem cells truly worked, researchers injected them into a developing mouse embryo. The resulting animal developed black fur patches and dark eyes , indicating that the ancient gene-driven stem cells had successfully integrated into the organism.
Choanoflagellates, while lacking stem cells themselves, seem to have used these genes for basic cell regulation—functions that early multicellular organisms may have adapted for building tissues, organs, and eventually complex animals.
“These genes likely controlled simple processes that later helped lay the groundwork for complex body plans,” de Mendoza added.
Evolutionary Echoes with Modern Implications
This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of animal evolution but could also influence the future of regenerative medicine . By tracing how stem cell machinery evolved, scientists may uncover better techniques for cell reprogramming, tissue repair , and even synthetic biology . The study is a striking reminder that evolution often recycles old tools , and that the origins of our complexity might lie in the simplest of ancestors.
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