Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology

The Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, created in 1997, studies the basic biological processes in marine organisms using functional and comparative molecular methods. It is since 2003 a partner of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL).

New Publications

Tracking the deep evolutionary origins of neurons

Comb jellies (ctenophores), one of the earliest-branching animal lineages, provide new insights into the evolutionary history of synapses and neurons. Ctenophores are fascinating marine organisms famous for locomotion by cilia and for their apparently simple nerve net. However, the molecular...

New Publications

Revolutionizing large scale calcium analysis

An adaptable and user-friendly platform for 2D and 3D calcium imaging data analysis reveals the basic organization of neuronal dynamics in a simple chordate brain.

Publications

Key components of neurons existed before animals did

Choanoflagellates, protists closely related to animals, provide new insights into the evolutionary history of neurosecretory vesicles.

publications

Nervous system in annelids: Pioneers join from both ends

Pioneer neurons provide new insights into the early nervous system development in annelids

Sarsians

From Beirut to Arctic; With a stop in a Sars lab

Despite the pandemic and its negative effects on academic mobility, the Sars Centre groups continued to host and train undergraduate students from foreign Universities, mainly at the Master of Science level. Mohamad Wahidi was finishing his internship the last week of June this year, and embarked then for a two week long arctic cruise devoted to deep sea research. He already has a rich international experience and he wished to share with us his feelings from his stay at Sars.