Tag

Sponges

All articles tagged with #sponges

science1 month ago•3 min saved

550-million-year sponge fossil bridges long gap in early animal record

A 550-million-year-old sea sponge fossil discovered along the Yangtze River helps fill a 160-million-year gap in the sponge fossil record. The find supports the idea that early sponges may have lacked mineral skeletons, explaining why older fossils are rare, and suggests the first sponges were soft-bodied and preserved only under exceptional conditions. This discovery prompts a broader approach to locating early life clues beyond hard, mineralized parts.

via ScienceDaily|

#early-life #evolution #fossils

science3 months ago•6 min saved

Ancient Sterols Point to Demosponges as Earth's First Animals

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.

via Indian Defence Review|

#early-life #precambrian #science

science3 months ago•5 min saved

Comb Jellies Crown the Earliest Split in the Animal Family Tree

New research used chromosome-level gene-order analysis to compare 14 gene groups in comb jellies, sea sponges, and closely related single-celled relatives. The patterns show conserved gene positions in comb jellies and non-animal relatives but greater genomic rearrangement in sponges, identifying comb jellies as the earliest animal branch and the sister lineage to all other animals, prompting a rethink of how key animal features evolved.

via Indian Defence Review|

#comb-jellies #evolution #genomics

science4 months ago•11 min saved

First animal origins: sponge vs comb jelly debate urged toward collaboration

A Nature feature traces a two-decade dispute over whether sponges or comb jellies are the earliest animal lineage, sparked by a 2008 genome study; with fossil evidence sparse, researchers call for a collaborative approach to uncover the fleeting genetic signals that could pinpoint the root of the animal family tree.

via Nature|

#animal-origins #comb-jellies #evolution

science7 months ago•3 min saved

541-Million-Year-Old Sea Sponge Identified as Earth's First Animal

New research suggests that sponges are the earliest animals on Earth, based on chemical evidence from over 541 million years ago, supporting the idea that they resemble our original animal ancestors.

via ScienceAlert|

#chemical-signatures #early-animals #evolution

health-and-safety8 months ago•12 min saved

Top Kitchen Cleaning Errors to Avoid, Microbiologists Say

Microbiologists advise proper kitchen cleaning practices to prevent germs and foodborne illnesses, emphasizing correct water temperature, regular sink and sponge sanitation, careful handling of cutting boards, and maintaining appliances like dishwashers to ensure a safe and hygienic cooking environment.

via SELF Magazine|

#dishwasher #food-safety #germs

home-and-lifestyle8 months ago•11 min saved

Top Kitchen Cleaning Errors to Avoid, Microbiologists Say

This article provides microbiologist-approved tips to avoid common kitchen cleaning mistakes, emphasizing proper water temperature, sink and sponge hygiene, cleaning fridge and touchpoints, maintaining dishwasher, and proper use of cutting boards to prevent foodborne illnesses and maintain a hygienic cooking environment.

via yahoo.com|

#disinfecting #food-safety #germs

climate2 years ago•2 min saved

"Sea Sponges Reveal Global Warming Has Surpassed Critical Climate Threshold"

Scientists studying centuries-old sponges in the Caribbean Sea have found that global warming since the industrial age may be more severe than previously thought, with human activity raising global temperatures by about 1.7 degrees Celsius, rather than the commonly used value of 1.2 degrees Celsius. This new research suggests that the effects of a hotter Earth, such as deadlier heat waves and stronger storms, may occur earlier than previously predicted.

via The New York Times|

#caribbean-sea #climate #climate-change

marine-biology2 years ago•3 min saved

Unusual Coexistence: Sharks Thrive in Australian Sponge Habitats

Researchers in Australia have made an unexpected discovery of banded sand catsharks, a small shark species, living inside sponges. The sharks, which are vulnerable to predation by larger sharks and fish, may use the sponges as a hiding place during the day to avoid becoming prey themselves. The researchers found as many as 30 sharks packed into a single sponge and suspect that the sponges may benefit from the sharks' presence by having protection from small fish or invertebrates that would otherwise feed on them. Further investigation is needed to understand the full extent of this behavior and its implications.

via The New York Times|

#banded-sand-catshark #habitat #marine-biology

science3 years ago•3 min saved

Unraveling the Mystery of the Tree of Life's Origins.

Scientists have identified the most recent ancestor of the sister to all animals through the use of chromosomal analysis, settling a long-running debate about the evolution of the entire tree of animal life. The study found that comb jellies are descendants of the sister group that broke from the animal family tree, before the mixing occurred. The findings resolve the controversial question over the lineage of the entire animal tree of life.

via Yahoo Life|

#animal-life #chromosomal-analysis #comb-jellies

science3 years ago•9 min saved

Uncovering the Origins and Evolution of Animals through Genetics and Fossils.

A new study based on chromosome structure has determined that comb jellies, or ctenophores, were the first lineage to diverge from the animal tree of life, preceding sponges. This research contributes to our understanding of early animal evolution and offers insight into the origin of key features of animal biology such as the nervous system, muscles, and the digestive tract. The study relied on the organization of genes into chromosomes to determine the evolutionary relationships among diverse creatures, shedding light on the earliest animal ancestors.

via SciTechDaily|

#animal-evolution #chromosome-structure #ctenophores

science3 years ago•4 min saved

Uncovering Mysteries of Animal Evolution through Gene Linkages and Extinction Events.

A new study has used chromosomal rearrangements to create a more accurate animal family tree, which places sponges as more closely related to humans than some other animals with a nervous system. The study identified eight rearrangements that were shared by animals with left and right sides like us vertebrates, and things like jellyfish (Cnidaria) and sponges (Porifera). None of these showed up in comb jellies (Ctenophora).

via Ars Technica|

#animal-evolution #chromosomal-rearrangements #gene-clusters