Hydra constitutively expresses transcripts involved in vertebrate neural differentiation

The diploblastic Hydra is among the most primitive multicellular organisms. Using cross-hybridization with Xenopus probes, noggin-like transcripts wer e detected in the hypostome and basal disc of adult Hydra (Pelmato-organize r. This points to the possibility hydra oligactis), regions with properties similar to that of the amphibian of a close molecular similarity between t he Xenopus and Hydra organizers. The constitutive expression of a noggin-li ke gene in Hydra may be responsible for its regenerative capacity.