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Ancient Sterols Point to Demosponges as Earth's First Animals

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Source: Indian Defence Review
Ancient Sterols Point to Demosponges as Earth's First Animals
Photo: Indian Defence Review
TL;DR

MIT researchers analyzed Precambrian rocks around 541 million years old and found sterane chemical fossils derived from sterols, linking early soft-bodied demosponges to the origins of animal life; corroborating lab experiments with modern sponges and synthesized sterols, the study suggests sponges may have predated the Cambrian explosion.

Topics:science#early-life#precambrian#science#sponges#steranes#sterols
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  1. Scientists Reveal Earth’s First Animals: 541 Million-Year-Old Sea Creatures Likely Shaped the Origins of Life  Indian Defence Review
  2. MIT study finds Earth’s first animals were likely ancient sea sponges  ScienceDaily
  3. The first animals on Earth had no skeletons and that changes everything  ScienceDaily

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