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Tunicates and not cephalochordates are the closest living relatives of vertebrates

Author

Listed:
  • Frédéric Delsuc

    (Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville
    UMR 5554-CNRS, Université Montpellier II)

  • Henner Brinkmann

    (Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville)

  • Daniel Chourrout

    (University of Bergen)

  • Hervé Philippe

    (Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville)

Abstract

Show some backbone A phylogenetic comparison of the protein sequences of 146 genes from 14 deuterostome species has come up with a result that could alter current thinking on the origin of the vertebrates. Based on overall morphology and on complexity, it was thought that the cephalochordates (marine organisms known as lancelets, or in old textbooks as amphioxus) were the vertebrates' closest living relatives. Closer than the tunicates (appendicularians, salps, and sea squirts), that were regarded as the earliest chordate lineage. But the new data suggest that tunicates, and not cephalochordates, are the closest living relatives of vertebrates. As well as the implications for vertebrate origins, this has a bearing on developmental studies in which tunicates and cephalochordates are used as model animals.

Suggested Citation

  • Frédéric Delsuc & Henner Brinkmann & Daniel Chourrout & Hervé Philippe, 2006. "Tunicates and not cephalochordates are the closest living relatives of vertebrates," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7079), pages 965-968, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:439:y:2006:i:7079:d:10.1038_nature04336
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04336
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    Cited by:

    1. R Prasobh & Narayanan Manoj, 2009. "The Repertoire of Heterotrimeric G Proteins and RGS Proteins in Ciona intestinalis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(10), pages 1-11, October.
    2. Jerry S Chen & Abygail M Gumbayan & Robert W Zeller & Joseph M Mahaffy, 2014. "An Expanded Notch-Delta Model Exhibiting Long-Range Patterning and Incorporating MicroRNA Regulation," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Guang Li & ZongHuang Shu & Yiquan Wang, 2013. "Year-Round Reproduction and Induced Spawning of Chinese Amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri, in Laboratory," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(9), pages 1-1, September.
    4. Lenny J. Negrón-Piñeiro & Yushi Wu & Sydney Popsuj & Diana S. José-Edwards & Alberto Stolfi & Anna Di Gregorio, 2024. "Cis-regulatory interfaces reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the notochord gene regulatory network of Ciona," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Karma Nanglu & Rudy Lerosey-Aubril & James C. Weaver & Javier Ortega-Hernández, 2023. "A mid-Cambrian tunicate and the deep origin of the ascidiacean body plan," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Xavier Grau-Bové & Lucie Subirana & Lydvina Meister & Anaël Soubigou & Ana Neto & Anamaria Elek & Silvia Naranjo & Oscar Fornas & Jose Luis Gomez-Skarmeta & Juan J. Tena & Manuel Irimia & Stéphanie Be, 2024. "An amphioxus neurula stage cell atlas supports a complex scenario for the emergence of vertebrate head mesoderm," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.

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