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.
A family of homing genetic elements that look like inteins but work differently is the progenitor of the endonuclease that enables Saccharomyces cerevisiae to change its mating type.
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.
A new morphological structure evolved through extreme changes in cell height requires novel connections to an extracellular matrix network, which predates the origin of structure.
Evidence suggests that the oskar gene, a critical germ line determinant in insects, was formed by fusion of bacterial and eukaryotic sequences at least 450 million years ago.
Unexpected structural diversity of nematode small molecules, as revealed by high-resolution phylogenetic analysis, suggests recurrent biochemical innovation, a pattern that is probably typical across animals.
In the ancestor of mammals, a multifunctional innate immune protein evolved when a mutation enhanced the protein’s pro-inflammatory activity and proteolytic regulation without disrupting the protein’s antimicrobial activity.
