- Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Taxobox
name = Purple Sea Urchin
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Echinodermata
classis =Echinoidea
subclassis =Euechinoidea
superordo =Echinacea
ordo =Echinoida
familia =Strongylocentrotidae
genus = "Strongylocentrotus "
species = "S. purpuratus"
binomial = "Strongylocentrotus purpuratus"
binomial_authority = (Stimpson, 1857)"Strongylocentrotus purpuratus", or the purple sea urchin, is one of the sharp-spined
sea urchin species. The spines are used as a means of defense against would-be predators. This urchin is deep purple in color, and grows to a diameter of about 4 inches. The are found along the Pacific coast of theUnited States andCanada where they cling to depressions in the rocks during low tide.The
genome of the male Californian purple sea urchin includes 23,300 genes ( a total of 814 million letters of DNA). The DNA map show that urchins have a sophisticated immune system, and carry genes associated with taste and smell, hearing and balance.The purple sea urchin and humans share a total of 7,077 genes, which makes these spineless species genetically closer to man than the fruit fly or worm. Urchins carry genes associated with many human diseases, such as muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease [http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/2006-07/06-052.html] .
A study of the purple sea urchin by
Caltech 's Kerckhoff Marine Biological Laboratory (KML) revealed that urchins have developed light sensors - a primitive form of vision. Scientists found genes associated with vision activated in the urchin’s tube feet, puny projections on the animal’s shell that help urchins move and feed [http://mr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR12920.html] .External links
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Strongylocentrotus_purpuratus.html "Strongylocentrotus purpuratus" information]
* [http://sugp.caltech.edu/ Sea Urchin Genome Project]
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