<i>Hydra vulgaris</i> (IMAGE)

Kyushu University

<i>Hydra vulgaris</i>

Caption

Hydra vulgaris is a tiny cnidarian with a simple anatomy. Collaborative research led by Kyushu University found that, despite lacking a central nervous system, hydras exhibit characteristics at a molecular and genetic level associated with sleep in more evolved animals, indicating that sleep-related mechanisms may have been acquired before the evolution of the brain.

Credit

Taichi Q. Itoh, Kyushu University

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