Biology / Unit 10 Bio 2233 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Sponges' Contested Position at the Animal Root
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The idea
Whether sponges or comb jellies branched first from the animal tree is contested, with morphological and molecular evidence pointing to different candidates.
In practice
Morphological simplicity favors sponges as the earliest-branching lineage, while some molecular analyses place comb jellies in that spot.
Where people slip
This course states both positions with no verdict — which lineage branched first remains an open question in phylogenetics.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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