Cnidocytes are specialized stinging cells that shoot a venomous "harpoon" into the unwary. These cells are common to jellyfish, anemone, corals and hydrae - known collectively as cnidarians.  A new study from Cornell University shows that cnidocytes might be important for understanding the origins of new cell types, from an evolutionary perspective. The research, led by professor Leslie Babonis, revealed that cnidocytes evolved from neurons found in a pre-cnidarian ancestral animal.   "These surprising results demonstrate how new genes acquire new functions to drive the evolution of biodiversity,"...