A Sponge By Any Other Name Would Not Smell As Fishy

The Marine Sponge is one of the most helpful organisms to scientists today that is because the sponge is so old, ancient I tell you. The Sponge is also one of the simplest multicellular animals on earth. Sponges are immobile and live by filtering detritus or dead organisms from the water. The sponges have amazing filtering system. Sponges grow in clusters from rocks on the ocean floor, which consist of colonies of cells.

Sponges are brainless without any organs which to speak. More importantly no nervous system; this is more important because scientist study sponges to further understand the human nervous system. Why? You ask. Good question I say. Because of an important thing called exaptation. Exaptation is a process where evolution co-opts existing structures for another purpose. This is important to know to understand sponges further. An important feature in the immune system is being able to distinguish “self” from “non-self”. Without this capability the organism fights its own cells because it cannot distinguish the difference between the organism cells and enemy cells. Sponges use this method too.

I think we can all agree that sponges are more intelligent and all together more powerful than any of us could of imaged. Think twice before you wash the next pan.