The mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) of Metazoa is a good model system for evolutionary
genomic studies and the availability of more than 1000 sequences provides an almost …

Traditional metazoan phylogeny classifies the Vertebrata as a subphylum of the phylum
Chordata, together with two other subphyla, the Urochordata (Tunicata) and the …

The phylogenetic position of amphioxus, together with its relatively simple and evolutionarily
conserved morphology and genome structure, has led to its use as a model for studies of …

Phylonyms is an implementation of PhyloCode, which is a set of principles, rules, and
recommendations governing phylogenetic nomenclature. Nearly 300 clades-lineages of …

Hox genes, with their similar roles in animals as evolutionarily distant as humans and flies,
have fascinated biologists since their discovery nearly 30 years ago. During the last two …

Chordates are divided into three subphyla: Vertebrata, Tunicata, and Cephalochordata.
Phylogenetically, the Cephalochordata, more commonly known as lancelets or amphioxus …

Background What impact gene loss has on the evolution of developmental processes, and
how function shuffling has affected retained genes driving essential biological processes …

Cephalochordates, the sister group of tunicates plus vertebrates, have been called “living
fossils” due to their resemblance to fossil chordates from Cambrian strata. The genome of …

Metamorphosis displays a striking diversity in chordates, a deuterostome phylum that
comprises vertebrates, urochordates (tunicates), and cephalochordates (amphioxus). In …

Morphological comparisons among extant animals have long been used to infer their long‐
extinct ancestors for which the fossil record is poor or non‐existent. For evolution of the …