Tag

Sponges

All articles tagged with #sponges

Comb Jellies Crown the Earliest Split in the Animal Family Tree
science23 days ago

Comb Jellies Crown the Earliest Split in the Animal Family Tree

New research used chromosome-level gene-order analysis to compare 14 gene groups in comb jellies, sea sponges, and closely related single-celled relatives. The patterns show conserved gene positions in comb jellies and non-animal relatives but greater genomic rearrangement in sponges, identifying comb jellies as the earliest animal branch and the sister lineage to all other animals, prompting a rethink of how key animal features evolved.

"Sea Sponges Reveal Global Warming Has Surpassed Critical Climate Threshold"
climate2 years ago

"Sea Sponges Reveal Global Warming Has Surpassed Critical Climate Threshold"

Scientists studying centuries-old sponges in the Caribbean Sea have found that global warming since the industrial age may be more severe than previously thought, with human activity raising global temperatures by about 1.7 degrees Celsius, rather than the commonly used value of 1.2 degrees Celsius. This new research suggests that the effects of a hotter Earth, such as deadlier heat waves and stronger storms, may occur earlier than previously predicted.

Unusual Coexistence: Sharks Thrive in Australian Sponge Habitats
marine-biology2 years ago

Unusual Coexistence: Sharks Thrive in Australian Sponge Habitats

Researchers in Australia have made an unexpected discovery of banded sand catsharks, a small shark species, living inside sponges. The sharks, which are vulnerable to predation by larger sharks and fish, may use the sponges as a hiding place during the day to avoid becoming prey themselves. The researchers found as many as 30 sharks packed into a single sponge and suspect that the sponges may benefit from the sharks' presence by having protection from small fish or invertebrates that would otherwise feed on them. Further investigation is needed to understand the full extent of this behavior and its implications.

science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Tree of Life's Origins.

Scientists have identified the most recent ancestor of the sister to all animals through the use of chromosomal analysis, settling a long-running debate about the evolution of the entire tree of animal life. The study found that comb jellies are descendants of the sister group that broke from the animal family tree, before the mixing occurred. The findings resolve the controversial question over the lineage of the entire animal tree of life.

Uncovering the Origins and Evolution of Animals through Genetics and Fossils.
science2 years ago

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.

Uncovering Mysteries of Animal Evolution through Gene Linkages and Extinction Events.
science2 years ago

Uncovering Mysteries of Animal Evolution through Gene Linkages and Extinction Events.

A new study has used chromosomal rearrangements to create a more accurate animal family tree, which places sponges as more closely related to humans than some other animals with a nervous system. The study identified eight rearrangements that were shared by animals with left and right sides like us vertebrates, and things like jellyfish (Cnidaria) and sponges (Porifera). None of these showed up in comb jellies (Ctenophora).