Faster breeding sea urchins: A comeback animal model for developmental biology
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - 09:10
in Biology & Nature
For some, sea urchins are a pretty addition to an aquarium, while for others they are simply an ingredient in a common type of sushi. However, for developmental biologists, they represent more than 100 years of research and education. Because their eggs are transparent, embryonic development and even the act of fertilization were easily viewed with microscopes in the 1800s. Beyond the embryo, sea urchins have long lives—some species living up to 200 years—making them interesting for developmental biologists who study aging.