I’m a Scientist is like school science lessons meet the X Factor! School students choose which scientist gets a prize of $1000 to communicate their work.
Scientists and students talk on this website. They both break down barriers, have fun and learn. But only the students get to vote.
This zone is the Organs Zone. It has scientists studying health and disease in various parts of our bodies. Who gets the prize? YOU decide!
Hi Jack,
This is a great question – not directly related to my research but something which I am personally interested in because star fish are weird and wonderful organisms.
Starfish, like other echinoderms (eg. crinoids- check out how they move! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V_px48dob8!) have a complex nervous system different to vertebrates (animals with backbones like humans). Star fish have a brain which is split up and distributed in a network/web of nerves what we call a ” nerve plexus” underneath their skin. There are also nerves running around the mouth/esophagus in a ring and together with the nerve plexus – they coordinate how the star fish moves.
Star fish also have tube feet, eye spots (not like normal eyes) or spines that allow them to detect light, temperature and their location. The digestive system of the star fish is also interesting because it has the same opening for it’s mouth and anus (to make poo!) and can actually digest food outside of it’s body because it has two stomachs one which is inside the body and the other- something like arms which can reach outside and capture prey.
Hope that helps answer your question!
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