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Long presumed to have no heads at all, starfish may be nothing but

3 years ago by DocMcStuffin to c/science

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For centuries, naturalists have puzzled over what might constitute the head of a sea star, commonly called a "starfish." When looking at a worm, or a fish, it's clear which end is the head and which is the tail. But with their five identical arms—any of which can take the lead in propelling sea stars across the seabed—it's been anybody's guess how to determine the front end of the organism from the back. This unusual body plan has led many to conclude that sea stars perhaps don't have a head at all.
AFKBRBChocolate 78 points 3 years ago

That's pretty interesting. Using generic sequencing compared to other organisms, they're missing the sequences for torso and tail. Plus the sequences that are usually in front tub down the center of each arm.

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LanternEverywhere 16 points 3 years ago

Thanks for the TLDR

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postmateDumbass 4 points 3 years ago

So is it one creature or a group of creatures?

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AFKBRBChocolate 9 points 3 years ago

One creature, they were just looking at where the genes expressed. There's a surprising amount of commonality in the DNA between animals, so they're able to look at where those common genes express on one vs another.

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Someology 1 point 3 years ago

One creature that is all head.

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lingh0e 0 points 3 years ago

Depends on how many chunks you slice them into...?

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robdor 23 points 3 years ago

I guess they are just a head of their time.

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HeChomk 23 points 3 years ago

But what?

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And009 6 points 3 years ago

The head, please English.

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HeChomk 4 points 3 years ago

There's no full stop. Please English.

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And009 2 points 3 years ago

Hah, true

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kozy138 4 points 3 years ago

But butt

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hydrospanner 4 points 3 years ago

But butt, in the butt?

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EyIchFragDochNur 19 points 3 years ago

The head, the whole head and nothing but the head.

(And a digestive system.)

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NightAuthor 17 points 3 years ago

Something something shithead

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EyIchFragDochNur 7 points 3 years ago

I was pretty upset when I saw the popup for your comment after waking up, but then I realized what you were replying to xD

I think I'll start calling people i don't like 'starfish'

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stown 5 points 3 years ago

Chocolate starfish.

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lingh0e 3 points 3 years ago

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Neil 3 points 3 years ago

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And009 1 point 3 years ago

And anal

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