Biologists Discover a Notable Division in the Evolutionary Hierarchy of Life Forms

Jackie Appel, a writer and editor from Pennsylvania, has been captivating audiences with her passion for the "weird wonders of the universe" on both Popular Mechanics and their TikTok page. With a background in astrophysics, Jackie's love for storytelling extends to space and physics, making her an ideal voice to discuss science-y stories.

For decades, scientists have debated the ancestral origins of modern-day animals. The question of whether sea sponges or comb jellies were the first to branch off has been a topic of much discussion. However, new methods of chromosomal analysis have provided some answers.

In a groundbreaking discovery, it has been revealed that the comb jelly is, in fact, the sister to all other animals, the first to branch off, and the most genetically isolated animal group. This is significant because the key to this finding was not just looking at what genes each animal had, but where those genes were located on the creatures' chromosomes.

In both the non-animals and the comb jellies, researchers found 14 groups of genes located on separate chromosomes. However, in the sponges (Porifera), the group considered as the sister group to all other animals, the researchers found that those 14 groups had been rearranged into 7 groups. This indicates that the sponges split off from the original genome later than the comb jellies.

The first split resulted in the birth of two creatures: the ancestor of almost all animals and the ancestor of a single group of modern-day animals. This split occurred around 600 million years ago.

Scientists are excited to investigate what this new knowledge can tell us about the history of animal evolution and the mechanisms powering that evolution. With Jackie's engaging style and passion for storytelling, she is the perfect guide to help us understand and appreciate this fascinating discovery.

To learn more about Jackie and her work, her full bio can be found on the Popular Mechanics website. Jackie continues to share her love for the "weird wonders of the universe" with others, using her voice to talk about science-y stories on TikTok.

Biologists Discover a Notable Division in the Evolutionary Hierarchy of Life Forms