Insights into early animal evolution from the genome of the xenacoelomorph worm Xenoturbella bocki.

ABSTRACT: The evolutionary origins of Bilateria remain enigmatic. One of the more enduring proposals highlights similarities between a cnidarian-like planula larva and simple acoel-like flatworms. This idea is based in part on the view of the Xenacoelomorpha as an outgroup to all other bilaterians which are themselves designated the Nephrozoa (protostomes and deuterostomes). Genome data can provide important comparative data and help understand the evolution and biology of enigmatic species better. Here, we assemble and analyze the genome of the simple, marine xenacoelomorph Xenoturbella bocki, a key species for our understanding of early bilaterian evolution. Our highly contiguous genome assembly of X. bocki has a size of ~111 Mbp in 18 chromosome-like scaffolds, with repeat content a

SUBMITTER: Schiffer PH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11521371 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature