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Deuterostomia Defined

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Deuterostomia groups animals sharing the pattern of Bio 2225, where the first embryonic opening becomes the anus; echinoderms, hemichordates, chordates belong here.

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A sea star and a human both develop by the deuterostome pattern despite very different adult body plans.

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Shared deuterostome development does not mean similar adult appearance — this clade spans some of the most divergent plans.