News archive for Michael Sars Centre

The Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology is changing its name to the Michael Sars Centre to honour the extraordinary contribution to science of one of Norway's most significant marine biologists. The center will now become part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

Famous Bergen scientist Michael Sars made a lasting impact on the field of marine biology during his prolific career in the 1800's. We explored the Rare Books Collection at the University of Bergen in search of his original publications and beautiful naturalist illustrations.

Calcium signaling is important for many developmental processes but has been studied in only a handful of animal species throughout the entire span of embryonic development. A recent study sheds light on the importance of calcium waves during development in the tunicate Oikopleura dioica.

Blood systems allow the transport of nutrients throughout the body in many animals. A recent study looking at nutrient transport in a sea anemone highlights the simple cellular and molecular mechanisms that allowed animals to transport nutrients before the existence of complex circulatory systems.

The paper from the Lynagh Group was highlighted as one of the journal’s Editors' Picks, which represent the top-rated papers published in JBC across the field of biological chemistry, and was selected for its ‘exceptional contribution to the field.’

Biological transitions: from molecules to evolution

Comb jellies (ctenophores), one of the earliest-branching animal lineages, provide new insights into the evolutionary history of synapses and neurons. Ctenophores are fascinating marine organisms famous for locomotion by cilia and for their apparently simple nerve net. However, the molecular composition of ctenophore neurons was unknown, and it has been hypothesized that ctenophore neurons... Read more

Choanoflagellates, protists closely related to animals, provide new insights into the evolutionary history of neurosecretory vesicles.