Tag: Early animal evolution
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Sponge vs. Comb Jelly: First Animal Debate Ongoing
Background: Who Is At the Root of the Animal Tree? The question of which lineage marks the origin of animals has long tugged at evolutionary biology. Two candidates dominate the discussion: Porifera (sponges) and Ctenophora (comb jellies). A recent study from UC, mirroring a shift in how scientists interpret ancient genetic data, reaches a different…
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Ancient Sea Sponges: Earth’s First Animals Revealed by MIT
Overview A new study from researchers at MIT in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences adds a provocative twist to the story of life on Earth. The team argues that some of the very first animals may have been ancestors of the modern sea sponge, a line of inquiry that could push back…