animal « Thoughtomics

New family tree of worms has roots in the 19th century

Tomompteris, a free-living worm belonging to the Errantia. When they are disturbed, they release glowing particles from their parapodia.

Nineteenth century biologists had a point when they divided the ringed worms into free-living hunters and sessile filter feeders. Their classification was dismissed in the 1970s, but a closer look at the genes of many different worms now shows that they were closer to the truth than their later colleagues. The classification of worms got [...]

Sponge Genomes: Simply Complex

Spongia officinalis, or "kitchen sponge". It is dark grey because it is alive, unlike the one in your bathtub.

You might not think much of sponges. Maybe you feel that they’re only good for rubbing your back and cleaning your kitchen sink. While you’re absolutely right that sponges have to be admired for their absorbing qualities, they have much more to offer this world. Like on the front of early animal evolution: new research [...]

Thoughtomics

New family tree of worms has roots in the 19th century

Sponge Genomes: Simply Complex

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