Genetic Complexity Of The Humble Water Flea

The genetic complexity of the humble water flea is more complex than in a human being.‎Scientists report that the one millimeter-long creature carries more genes than other forms ‎of animals known. To say the least, a total count of around 31,000 genes are found ‎packed into its DNA. In contrast, human beings are known to have only around 23,000 ‎genes.‎

The common water flea, Daphnia pulex, was the first crustacean to undergo a blueprint ‎recording displaying the sequence of various chemical sequences that make up genetic ‎code, or genome.‎ The Daphnia appears to be just ordinary, with a transparent body, jointed limbs, having ‎compound eyes and a simple nervous and circulatory system. But comparatively its ‎genome is found to be unusually large but full of surprises.‎

More than one third of Daphnia’s genes are not documented in any other living organism ‎‎– that is to reflect, “they are entirely new to science,” said Dr Don Gilbert, one of the ‎researchers from Indiana University at Bloomington in the United States.‎

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh were also involved in the project.‎