A Viral Infection Leads to More Sophisticated Brains
As the predator-prey arms race intensified in the ancient oceans, fish evolved stronger defenses — and increasingly sophisticated brains. This clip from BBC’s Evolution episode "The Dolphin" examines the armored placoderms, whose fossilized skulls reveal surprisingly complex brains for animals that lived around 400 million years ago. CT scans allow scientists to reconstruct these ancient brains and explore structures involved in movement, balance, and processing information.
The video also explores a remarkable theory about the evolution of myelin, the insulating material that allows nerve signals to travel much faster along neurons. Retroviral DNA may have played a role in triggering the development of myelin in early vertebrates, helping their brains process information more rapidly while freeing them from the need for enormous nerve fibers. This evolutionary innovation helped pave the way for increasingly sophisticated vertebrate brains.
Go on an epic four billion year adventure travelling through time to uncover how life on earth evolved. Learn more.
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