The demonstration of the fact that the sponge NmeGp1Sd can replace human Nme1 in human tumor cells encourages us to propose that the NmeGp1 (at least Nme1) function responsible for regulating adhesion/migration of cells was established in the metazoan ancestor well before the Cambrian explosion i.e. before the appearance of diverse groups of multicellular Metazoa. The gene discussed is NME1; the disease is neoplasm.