A recent study found that after feeding specific bacteria to a certain unicellular relative of animals, the single cells began to stick to one another, revealing a possible mode by which our ancestors began to evolve into animals billions of years ago.

How this affects you

This research provides insights into the early evolutionary steps that led to multicellular life forms, offering a better understanding of how animals, including humans, evolved from single-celled organisms. It also highlights the potential for studying simpler organisms to uncover genetic insights relevant to developmental processes or diseases.