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Expression of Fluorescent Proteins in Branchiostoma lanceolatum by mRNA Injection into Unfertilized Oocytes

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Six major steps in animal evolution: are we derived sponge larvae?

Claus Nielsen¹

¹Zoological Museum (The Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen), Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Evolution & Development

|March 5, 2008

Summary

The evolution of early animals likely began with a simple, pelagic ancestor called choanoblastaea. This led to sponges, and a specialized larva evolved into the eumetazoan ancestor, suggesting all eumetazoans may be derived from sponge larvae.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Developmental Biology
Animal Phylogeny

Background:

Early metazoan evolution remains a complex area, integrating morphological, embryological, and molecular data.
Understanding the transition from unicellular to multicellular life and the origin of animal body plans is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a scenario for early metazoan evolution based on a comprehensive literature review.
To trace the lineage from a hypothetical choanoblastaea ancestor to modern animal phyla.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of existing literature on animal morphology, embryology, and molecular studies.
Comparative analysis of larval stages and adult body plans across different animal groups.

Main Results:

The metazoan ancestor, 'choanoblastaea,' was a pelagic sphere of choanocytes.
Sponges evolved from an advanced choanoblastaea with cell specialization and polarity.
A progenetic homoscleromorph larva, developing an archenteron and sealed epithelia, is proposed as the eumetazoan ancestor ('gastraea').

Conclusions:

Major evolutionary steps involved the co-option of existing gene networks.
The evolution of the eumetazoan ancestor from a sponge-like larva suggests all eumetazoans may be derived from sponge larvae.
This model explains the origin of cnidarians and the diversification of triploblasts, including bilaterians.