Re: Have we evolved from starfish?

We did not evolve from starfish directly. Starfishes evolved long ago 
(millions and millions of years ago) and they are invertebrates (animals 
without back bones!). It is true that we and starfishes evoloved from a 
common ancestor.
According to Haeckel, "Ontogeny recapitulates Phylogeny" i.e the 
developmental history of an individual resembles the evolutionary history 
of the species. Our embryonic developmental stages exhibits the various 
stages of our evolution. It is true that our embryo resebles more or like 
a fish, a tailed animal etc., but NOT a star fish. Our penta dactyl digit 
(five fingers)evolution can not be attributed to Starfishes.

Moderator's note:
Haekel's "Biogenetic Law" was disproven by Developmental Biologists around
1910.  For a discussion, see the previous answer at:
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/oct99/940255073.Ev.r.html

Also, while starfish are considered "invertebrates", they are members of
Deuterostomia along with the Vertebrates, such starfish and humans share
a more recent common ancestor than either do with any other group of
animals.