The puzzle of how complex nervous systems emerged remains unsolved. Comparative
studies of neurodevelopment in cnidarians and bilaterians suggest that this process began …

Reverse genetics and next‐generation sequencing unlocked a new era in biology. It is now
possible to identify an animal (s) with the unique biology most relevant to a particular …

There is currently little information about the evolution of gene clusters, genome
architectures and karyotypes in early branching animals. Slowly evolving anthozoan …

In nervous systems, there are two main modes of transmission for the propagation of activity
between cells. Synaptic transmission relies on close contact at chemical or electrical …

Jellyfish (medusae) are a distinctive life-cycle stage of medusozoan cnidarians. They are
major marine predators, with integrated neurosensory, muscular and organ systems. The …

Hox genes encode conserved developmental transcription factors that govern anterior-
posterior (AP) pattering in diverse bilaterian animals, which display bilateral symmetry …

Background Planktonic ciliated larvae are characteristic for the life cycle of marine
invertebrates. Their most prominent feature is the apical organ harboring sensory cells and …

Non-bilaterian phyla represent key lineages for exploring the evolutionary history of early
animals. However, despite an increasing number of sequenced genomes from early …

The question of whether the ancestral bilaterian had a central nervous system (CNS) or a
diffuse ectodermal nervous system has been hotly debated. Considerable evidence …

Background Wound healing is the first stage of a series of cellular events that are necessary
to initiate a regenerative response. Defective wound healing can block regeneration even in …