Knowing the
origin of each
cell and which genes
control their normal function are the foundations for scientists to decipher the disease process and eventually to find out how to guide the
cells to self - repair or even to build up a brand new organ using amended
cells from the patients.»
The
origins of many
of these and other genes specific to animal processes such as
cell adhesion, and social
control of cell proliferation, death and differentiation can be traced to genomic events (gene birth, subfamily expansions, intron gain / loss, and so on) that occurred in the lineage that led to the metazoan ancestor, after animals diverged from their unicellular «cousins».