Uncovering the Origins and Evolution of Animals through Genetics and Fossils.
A new study based on chromosome structure has determined that comb jellies, or ctenophores, were the first lineage to diverge from the animal tree of life, preceding sponges. This research contributes to our understanding of early animal evolution and offers insight into the origin of key features of animal biology such as the nervous system, muscles, and the digestive tract. The study relied on the organization of genes into chromosomes to determine the evolutionary relationships among diverse creatures, shedding light on the earliest animal ancestors.