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Early animal evolution revealed by chromosome ‘tectonics’
- pfdietz 5y agoThis is quite interesting, that this genetic structure is sufficiently conserved to be useful for inferring relationships so far back in time. The paper being referenced is here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abi5884 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abi5884 The paper says "Unfortunately, the currently available subchromosomal assemblies of ctenophores (17, 52) are too fragmented to apply this logic to infer the relationships among ctenophores, sponges, and other animals; such analysis awaits chromosome-scale genome assemblies." When those are available, this could help nail down the answer to the long running question of what branched off first, sponges or comb jellies (ctenophores).