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In situ Hybridization for Sipunculus nudus Coelomic Fluid
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Re-evaluating the phylogeny of Sipuncula through transcriptomics.

Sarah Lemer1, Gisele Y Kawauchi2, Sónia C S Andrade3

  • 1Museum of Comparative Zoology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
|December 3, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Sipunculan (peanut worm) systematics were reevaluated using comparative transcriptomics. This study resolves familial relationships within this ancient marine worm group with high confidence.

Keywords:
AnnelidaPeanut wormsPhylogenomicsSystematics

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Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Systematics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Sipunculans, or peanut worms, are an ancient marine phylum with a global distribution.
  • Their evolutionary relationships have been studied using morphology and molecular data, but limitations exist with traditional methods.
  • Recent advances in transcriptomics offer new avenues for resolving complex phylogenetic questions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reevaluate the family-level phylogeny of Sipuncula using comparative transcriptomic analysis.
  • To resolve outstanding systematic issues regarding the familial relationships within Sipuncula.
  • To provide a robust phylogenetic framework for future research on sipunculan evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative transcriptomic analysis of eight species representing all known sipunculan families.
  • Construction and analysis of two data matrices with varying gene occupancy and missing data levels.
  • Phylogenetic analyses using concatenation and gene-tree methods.

Main Results:

  • Transcriptomic data yielded congruent results across different analytical approaches.
  • All internal nodes in the sipunculan phylogeny were resolved with maximum support.
  • Specific familial relationships, including those of Aspidosiphonidae, Antillesomatidae, and Phascolosomatidae, were clarified.

Conclusions:

  • Comparative transcriptomics provides a powerful tool for resolving sipunculan phylogeny.
  • The study confirms and refines previous molecular phylogenetic findings.
  • Outstanding systematic questions are resolved, guiding future research directions in sipunculan systematics.