Molecular Evolution: Evidence for Monophyly of Metazoa
This volume concentrates on the origin of multicellular animals, Metazoa. Until now, no unequivocal phylogeny has been produced. Therefore, the questions remain: Did Metazoa evolve from the Protozoa only once, or several times? Is the origin of animals mo
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Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York Barcelona Budapest Hong Kong London Milan Paris Santa Clara Singapore Tokyo
Werner E.G. Muller (Ed.)
Molecular Evolution: Evidence for Monophyly of Metazoa
With 54 Figures
Springer
Professor Dr. WERNER E.G. MULLER Institut fUr Physiologische Chemie Abteilung fUr Angewandte Molekularbiologie Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat Duesbergweg 6 D-55099 Mainz Germany
ISBN-13: 978-3-642-48747-7 DOl: 10.1007/978-3-642-48745-3
e- ISBN -13: 978-3-642-48745-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data. MUlier, Werner E. G. Molecular evolution: evidence for monophyly of metazoa/Werner E.G. MUller. p. cm.-(Progress in molecular and subcellular biology; 19) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-3-642-48747-7 1. Metazoa. 2. Phylogeny. 3. Evolutionary genetics. 4. Molecular evolution. I. Title. II. Series. QH503.P76 no. 19QL45.2 572.8 s-dc21 [572.8'38] This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data Banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereofis permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permissions for use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag. Violations are liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. ©Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1998 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1998 The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover design: Meta Design, Berlin Typesetting: Best-set Typesetter Ltd., Hong Kong SPIN 10540565 39/3137 5432 1 0 - Printed on acid-free paper
Preface
This volume focuses on the origin of multicellular animals, Metazoa. Fossil records are scarce and morphological, biochemical or cytological evidence has not demonstrated an unequivocal phylogeny. Therefore, the question remains: Did Metazoa evolve from Protozoa only once, or several times? Is the origin of animals monophyletic or polyphyletic? Especially the relationships between the existing lower metazoan phyla, particularly the Porifera, are uncertain. In addition, phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequences of small and large ribosomal RNA also revealed no conclusive results with regard to the evolutionary dichotomy of diploblasts (Porifera, Cnidaria and Ctenophora) and triploblasts in general and the diploblastic lineages in particular. During the evolution of unicellular eukaryotes to multicellular animals, complex molecular systems were established which allow a tuned and controlled interaction between cells among each other, and cells and extracellular molecules. Hence, cell surface-associated adhesion and growth
