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Evolutionary origin of gastrulation: insights from sponge development.

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Sponge cell layers do not appear homologous to eumetazoan germ layers, as they lack progressive fate determination. However, the conserved GATA gene in sponges suggests a shared ancestry with eumetazoan endomesoderm prior to germ layer evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Zoology

Background:

  • The evolutionary origin of gastrulation and germ layers in animals is a significant unresolved question.
  • Understanding the relationship between sponge cell layers and eumetazoan germ layers is key to this debate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether sponge cell layers exhibit progressive fate determination comparable to eumetazoan germ layer formation.
  • To explore the evolutionary relationship between sponge cell layers and eumetazoan germ layers.

Main Methods:

  • Cell-labeling experiments were conducted on the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica.
  • Expression patterns of the transcription factor GATA were analyzed in larvae and juveniles.

Main Results:

  • Sponge embryonic cell layers are not related to juvenile cell layers.
  • Juvenile epithelial cells in sponges can transdifferentiate and migrate between layers.
  • The transcription factor GATA, an endomesodermal marker in eumetazoans, is expressed in the inner cell layer of Amphimedon queenslandica.

Conclusions:

  • Sponge cell layers likely do not undergo progressive fate determination and are not homologous to eumetazoan germ layers.
  • GATA expression in sponge inner cells suggests a shared ancestry with the eumetazoan endomesoderm predating germ layer origins.
  • Germ layers and gastrulation likely evolved early in metazoan evolution from pre-existing developmental programs.