Cambridge - Some researchers have tried to determine the oldest animals on the planet. The result, they claim that a simple sea sponge was as the first animal present on Earth.
Excerpted from The Independent on Wednesday, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say that sea sponges existed long before the 'explosion' in the Cambrian, which is an evolutionary period that began about 540 million years ago.
At that moment, suddenly appeared so many new types of ancient animals.
The MIT team revealed it after analyzing the molecular fossils, from molecules found in ancient rocks and survive until now.
In particular there is a rare molecule called 24-Isopropylcholesterol (abbreviated to 24-IPC) found in rocks 640 million years old. Apparently, the same molecule is also produced by sea sponges today.
As a follow-up of these findings, the team led by David Gold tried to find genes that are responsible for generating 24-IPC, as well as finding organisms that carry the gene, and when the development becomes the organism carrier.
From an analysis of 30 genes in different organisms, the team narrowed down to a single gene, namely sterol methyltransferase (SMT), which can cause an organism to produce a 24-IPC if the organism has the correct number of copies of the gene.
The researchers found that the species of marine sponges and algae have the correct number of copies of the SMT to be able to produce 24-IPC.
Through analysis of these genes and create a chart (diagram) evolutionary trees based on fossil records, they found that sea sponges that produce the molecules in question long before algae produce it as well.
According to the researchers, sea sponges reach this important point about 640 million years ago - the same as the period of formation of rocks that contain a 24-IPC.
This study provides strong evidence that sea sponges appeared on Earth much earlier than any animal. However, David Gold believes that this discovery has raised new questions.
"What is the nature of this organism? What kind of environment 640 million years ago, and why there is a prolonged lag time in the fossil record about?" David Gold.
"This shows there are still many that we do not yet know about the early life of the animal, how many findings still left, and how useful this molecular fossils to fill the pauses in question when done correctly."
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At that moment, suddenly appeared so many new types of ancient animals.
The MIT team revealed it after analyzing the molecular fossils, from molecules found in ancient rocks and survive until now.
In particular there is a rare molecule called 24-Isopropylcholesterol (abbreviated to 24-IPC) found in rocks 640 million years old. Apparently, the same molecule is also produced by sea sponges today.
As a follow-up of these findings, the team led by David Gold tried to find genes that are responsible for generating 24-IPC, as well as finding organisms that carry the gene, and when the development becomes the organism carrier.
From an analysis of 30 genes in different organisms, the team narrowed down to a single gene, namely sterol methyltransferase (SMT), which can cause an organism to produce a 24-IPC if the organism has the correct number of copies of the gene.
The researchers found that the species of marine sponges and algae have the correct number of copies of the SMT to be able to produce 24-IPC.
Through analysis of these genes and create a chart (diagram) evolutionary trees based on fossil records, they found that sea sponges that produce the molecules in question long before algae produce it as well.
According to the researchers, sea sponges reach this important point about 640 million years ago - the same as the period of formation of rocks that contain a 24-IPC.
This study provides strong evidence that sea sponges appeared on Earth much earlier than any animal. However, David Gold believes that this discovery has raised new questions.
"What is the nature of this organism? What kind of environment 640 million years ago, and why there is a prolonged lag time in the fossil record about?" David Gold.
"This shows there are still many that we do not yet know about the early life of the animal, how many findings still left, and how useful this molecular fossils to fill the pauses in question when done correctly."
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