Scientists have found that in early fish such as sturgeon, the neural crest that started in the brain evolved into a bony armor covering their bodies.
This may point to an ancient role in bone formation that dates back to the cuirassed fish of the Devonian period.
Examining the neural crest allowed the scientists to determine that it formed a bone-like material, including the armored scales of fish. These results may also provide clues about the origin of bones in other vertebrates.
The significance of the discovery lies in the fact that the first fish covered in bony armor were common in evolution before other vertebrate lineages arose.
Research also shows that the nerve crest played an important role in bone formation in the ancestors of vertebrates. In modern mammals, however, this ability may have been lost in the course of evolution.
Source: Ferra
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