The rhythm continues… Clench your fist. Is it possible for such a small organ to be capable of life? The heart is made of pure muscle and although it seems rather fragile, history has proven otherwise. It has demonstrated its robustness and durability through the trial and error of advances in cardiology. Many problems can occur in the heart, but no matter how small the problem may be, it can affect the entire heart, which in turn will affect the entire body. Today, the heart is said to have evolved from the simple cells of the Porifera that pump water through the sponge (Zimmer), to a tube topped with an enlarged lump, to the king of multi-chamber pumping which we now have the chance of. Over the years, questions have been raised about how and why the heart evolved, a mystery we are still trying to solve. The mammalian heart is believed to have developed to what it is today due to genetic mutations. Although these genetic mutations are generally beneficial, they can sometimes be detrimental and have life-threatening consequences. Living from year to year, an organism's specific genetic sequence cannot be repeated with an exact clone millions of times. The sequence is often mutated and therefore evolution plays its role. In Carl Zimmer's article, The Hidden Unity of Hearts-the Evolution of the Human Heart, he recounts the discovery of the first heart-related gene. In 1993, a scientist named Rolf Bodmer discovered a unique gene in fruit flies that, once removed, the heart never developed (Zimmer). He named this gene Tinman. Shortly after this discovery, the Nkx gene was discovered in mice and had the same effect. These findings paved the way for scientists to find other genes that would affect the paper's heart......ds a reserve of its own blood to function properly. These arteries, called coronary arteries, are responsible. Blockage of these arteries prevents oxygen from reaching the heart tissue and leads to what is called a heart attack. The evolutionary development of the heart has come a long way from the singular tube to the multi-chambered complexes that now function in humans. . Some scientists say genetics haven't changed much over the years. They also say that the human heart is a perfected machine that seems to have achieved its evolutionary goal. However, the heart will continue to amaze us. With its constant anomalies, genetic mutations and search for perfection, the heart will never be completely known and understood. Instead, it will be an enigma, constantly avoiding our rules and always offering us life..