The genomic origin of the unique chaetognath body plan.

ABSTRACT: The emergence of animal phyla, each with their unique body plan, was a rapid event in the history of animal life, yet its genomic underpinnings are still poorly understood¹. Here we investigate at the genomic, regulatory and cellular levels, the origin of one of the most distinctive animal phyla, the chaetognaths, whose organismal characteristics have historically complicated their phylogenetic placement^2,3. We show that these characteristics are reflected at the cell-type level by the expression of genes that originated in the chaetognath lineage, contributing to adaptation to planktonic life at the sensory and structural levels⁴. Similarly to other members of gnathiferans (which also include rotifers and several other microscopic phyla)^5,6, cha

SUBMITTER: Piovani L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12460157 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature