Cell Biology

Advances in cell biology were acknowledged in a review by Perezovchicov in 2007, commenting on how cell- cell signal transmission is a key concept in developmental biology. Since the discovery of sponge reaggregation in 1907 (see review, Pompomi 2006), a large number of studies have been based around this phylum, assessing them for developmental biology and immuniology (Saltalova et al. 2007).  Developmental biology explains the molecular basis of fertilisation, early development & embryonic growth (Perezovchicov 2007).

            Sterols are steroid-based alcohols, simplified as organic molecules that occur naturally in animals, best known being carbohydrates. Sponge sterols are developmental cues that have a role in signalling pathways (Perezovchicov 2007), which largely orchestrate animal development (Adamska et al.). Sponges possess a diverse sterol metabolism (Djerassi & Silva 1991), some with a greater range than all organisms combined (Goad L.J). In 1987 the unusual sterols of sponges were thought to have no biological activity associated with them (Cho & Djerassi 1987).  Further studies have acknowledged their significance, although some are seen to be useless, particular combinations of others are suggested to characterise some orders families and genera (see review, Santalova et al. 2006).

 As briefly mentioned above Diffusible lingands of several signalling pathways including; Wnt, TGF-β, Hedgehog, Growth Factor, GPCR and Ras (Srivastava et al. 2010),  and cell surface molecules largely orchestrate animal development (Adamska et al). Their broad range of developmental signally and transcription factor genes suggest that their developmental toolkit is similar to that of complex bilatarians (Srivastava et al. 2010)