The gene regulatory network of Nodal signaling, underpinning body axes patterning, was evolved specifically in cephalochordate lineage.

Interest in the ecology, biology and evolution of amphioxus is growing, and the availability of several species is helping to improve our understanding of chordate evolution.

Previously undescribed morphogenetic and developmental mechanisms unravel that the cooperation of two ancient signaling pathways, nitric oxide and retinoic acid, is essential to build a chordate embryo.

The animal phylogeny of glutamate receptors indicates that vertebrate types do not account for all receptor classes originated during evolution, neither are they the pinnacle of a linear evolutive process.

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is essential for the specification of dorsal cell fate in amphioxus, suggesting a common evolutionary origin for the formation of the dorsal organizer in chordates.

Identification and functional characterization of the first non-chordate kisspeptin neuropeptide system in the sea cucumber indicates the ancient origin of the intracellular signaling and physiological functions of this molecular system.

Genome sequence data from a range of animal species are raising questions about the origins of glutamate receptors.

The ascidian Ciona integrates visual information from two photoreceptor types through convergent excitatory and disinhibitory circuits, thereby evoking swim behaviors.

The investigation of neuroimmunology in non-model organisms is critical to diversify the field and identify primordial principles that govern neuroimmune communication across taxa.

Developmental regulatory mechanisms for peripheral nervous system formation appear to be conserved in ascidians despite extensive genomic divergence after 390 MY of separate evolution.