Evolution theories tell us that land-dwelling creatures came from the sea after some fishes figured out how to walk on land. It might sound crazy, but it could be true after scientists recently raised fishes to walk on land, and it actually worked.
The deed was done by researchers from the McGill University, and the goal was to figure out the psychological and behavioral changes of fishes as they make their first step on land 400 million years ago. The findings are quite remarkable, and it makes us wonder if the theory of fish being the father of us all is really true.
In order to find out what really took place 400 million years ago, Emily Standen, the lead author of the study, along with her co-workers, used 111 young Polypterus senegalus (dinosaur eel) to help bring everything into focus.
"I used to look at fins and their motion, and I always thought it was so interesting and complex," says Emily Standen, the lead author of a recent study that was published by Nature Today. "And then I thought, wow, how does that change from a fin to something that might work on land? That's how this project started."
We understand from the study that the fishes were grown in mesh flooring that was covered in pebbles and only 3 millimeters of water for eight months. This prevented the little fishes from drying out, and it also helped them to walk with their fins rather than swim.
Furthermore, the study shows that fishes that grow up on land have several differences when compared to the ones who don't. For example, the dinosaur eels used in this test, walk with more effective gait; they tend to plant their fins closer to the body for balance.
In addition, these fishes lift their heads higher while walking, and they slip less. We also understand that the bones that support the fins managed to change shape, and other changes gave the head and body more room to move around.
While the findings are indeed interesting, the researchers have taken into account that the dinosaur eels are not the direct descendants of the first fish that walked out of water onto land. However, the dinosaur eels are the next best thing, as the features of these fishes resembles of the fossils of the fish that walked on land first.
Standen is now planning to go deeper with this study. She wants to repeat the study to test muscle, and see what kind of changes would take place should the fishes stay on land longer. She even wants to run this study over several cycles.
