The phylogenetic position of dicyemid mesozoans offers insights into spiralian evolution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obtaining phylogenomic data for enigmatic taxa is essential to achieve a better understanding of animal evolution. Dicyemids have long fascinated biologists because of their highly simplified body organization, but their life-cycles remain poorly known. Based on the discovery of the dicyemid DoxC gene, which encodes a spiralian peptide, it has been proposed that dicyemids are members of the Spiralia. Other studies have suggested that dicyemids may have closer affinities to mollusks and annelids. However, the phylogenetic position of dicyemids has remained a matter of debate, leading to an ambiguous picture of spiralian evolution.

Results

In the present study, newly sequenced transcriptomic data from Dicyema japonicum were complemented with published

SUBMITTER: Lu TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5447306 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature