From the article :
But our analyses show that these genes are also found in animals that do not have a nervous system, such as sponges. That means the genetic basis of the nervous system may have evolved before the nervous system itself did.
Not possible under strict evolution. The body would not evolve something for which it had no use.
But our analyses show that these genes are also found in animals that do not have a nervous system, such as sponges. That means the genetic basis of the nervous system may have evolved before the nervous system itself did.
Not possible under strict evolution. The body would not evolve something for which it had no use.
...
The genes had a purpose in the other organisms, just not for the nervous system.
The body would not evolve something for which it had no use.
That observation just means it had a use for the genomes prior to being put to that use. We see the same thing occurring today in species which use the same or very similar proteins for differing uses - in some cases for differing uses in different tissues within the same organism.