A recent study from Auburn University indicates that in the battle over whether the jelly fish or the sponge was the first animal, the jelly fish wins. Genetic material from a comb jelly was used to find that there is a clear definition between the divisions in the taxonomic group. They have both tentacles and use cilia to swim. While the title of the oldest has gone back and forth, the 27 species of comb jellies have continuously proved to be the oldest. The sponge researchers are expected to respond.
Key Takeaways:
- It is believed that the comb jelly is the oldest animal in the animal kingdom after recent studies on DNA by Auburn University.
- The number of genes found in the 27 different comb jellies tested by Auburn repeatedly showed that in the battle between comb jellies and sponges, the jellies are older.
- It appears as though the new research points to a need to reorganize the jellies in taxonomy groups, and it is suspected that the sponge groups will have a response to this recent data.
“Comb jellies, which we should emphasize are entirely separate from jellyfish, certainly look the part of a distant ancestor.”
Read more: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2017/10/10/comb-jelly-sister-species/
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