Complex Life Doesn't Require High Oxygen Levels to Survive: Study

Studies on a small sea sponge have found that complex life does not require high levels of oxygen to survive and grow.

The origin of complex life is one of science's greatest mysteries. How could the first small primitive cells evolve into the diversity of advanced life forms that exists on Earth today? The explanation in all textbooks is: Oxygen. Complex life evolved because the atmospheric levels of oxygen began to rise app. 630 - 635 million years ago.

Sea Sponge With Anti Cancer Properties
A natural compound from a deep-sea sponge with anti cancer properties, belonging to the family Neopeltidea has been found by Karl Scheidt, a Northwestern chemist.

However new studies of a common sea sponge from Kerteminde Fjord in Denmark showed that animals can live and grow even with very limited oxygen supplies.

In fact animals can live and grow when the atmosphere contains only 0.5 per cent of the oxygen levels in today's atmosphere.

"Our studies suggest that the origin of animals was not prevented by low oxygen levels," lead author Daniel Mills, PhD at the Nordic Center for Earth Evolution at the University of Southern Denmark, said.

Chemical Found in Sea Sponges can Trigger Cancer Cell Death
Researchers from National Cancer Institute in Frederick have revealed that a natural chemical found in sea sponges can trigger cancer cell death using an unusual pathway.

The study was published in the journal PNAS.

Source-ANI

Sea Sponges Share a Genetic Connection With Humans
Mankind may be descended from apes but Australian scientists have found proof of links much closer to the sea floor, with a study revealing that sea sponges share almost 70 percent of human genes.