Forget sponges: The earliest animals were marine jellies

Forget sponges: The earliest animals were marine jellies 04/12/2017 10:26 AM EDT One of the longest-running controversies in evolutionary biology has been, "What was the oldest branch of the animal family tree?" Was it the sponges, as had long been thought, or was it the delicate marine predators called comb jellies? A powerful new method has been devised to settle contentious phylogenetic tree-of-life issues like this and it comes down squarely on the side of comb jellies. Full story at https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2017/04/10/forget-sponges-the-earliest-animals-were-marine-jellies/ Source Vanderbilt University This is an NSF News From the Field item.   Follow NSF:  This email was sent using GovDelivery, on behalf of: National Science Foundation Update · 4201 Wilson Boulevard · Arlington, VA 22230 · 703-292-5111