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Evolution

A sisterly dispute

Which phylum first branched off from the animal phylogenetic tree is a contested issue. A new analysis challenges the proposal that comb jellies are the sister group to all other animals, and emphasizes a 'sponges-first' view. Three evolutionary biologists weigh up the evidence.

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Figure 1: The animal tree.

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Correspondence to Maximilian J. Telford, Leonid L. Moroz or Kenneth M. Halanych.

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Telford, M., Moroz, L. & Halanych, K. A sisterly dispute. Nature 529, 286–287 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/529286a

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