Ancient chemical evidence points to sea sponges as Earth's first animals
A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has uncovered chemical evidence suggesting that the first animals on Earth were likely ancient sea sponges. The team found molecular traces, called steranes, in rocks that are over 541 million years old. These compounds match those produced by modern demosponges, a major group of sea sponges. The research strengthens the idea that these early sponges existed long before other animal groups began to diversify during the Cambrian period. The study builds on previous findings from 2009, which showed similar compounds in Ediacaran rocks, and adds new evidence, including C31 steranes that match those produced by living sponges today. By studying both modern sponges and synthetic lab-made molecules, the researchers confirmed that these ancient chemical markers were biological, not geological in origin. This discovery highlights the significant role sea sponges may have played in the early evolution of animal life. The team plans to extend their research to other ancient rocks to further pinpoint when the first animals emerged.
Ancient chemical evidence points to sea sponges as Earth's first animals
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#seasponges #earlyanimals #geobiology
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