[Focus] It is confirmed that the oldest vertebrate on the planet is Yunnan worm, which grows like this →

Chinese paleontologists used advanced experimental technologies to confirm that Yunnan worms 518 million years ago were the oldest vertebrates on the planet. This is another "Super Star" born in the Treasure Treasury of my country. The discovery is of great significance to understand the origin of the vertebrates of our own vertebrates. Related results were published on the 8th of the international authoritative journal "Science" on the 8th.

Yunnan worm ecological restoration diagram. (Director of Zhao Fangchen, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geological Palace of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Yang Dinghua Drawing)

In the process of life evolution, the evolution of vertebrates is one of the most magnificent chapters. Where does modern vertebrate come from? What is the oldest vertebrate? These major scientific issues have attracted the attention of paleontologists in various countries. The Chengjiang Animal Group, located in Yunnan, my country, has preserved a large number of vertebrate ancestral groups. Scientists have always had high hopes for the mystery of the origin of vertebrates in it.

Yunnan worm specimen. (Zhao Fangchen, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geological Palace of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

This time, the research team used a three -dimensional X -ray fault to scan a variety of modern experimental equipment such as microscopes and electron microscopes, and re -studied a category of previously classified animals: Yunnan worms. From a morphological point of view, Yunnan worms are a bit similar to the current worms. Their body is flat, generally only 3 to 4 cm long. Through the re -analysis of the 127 Yunnan worm specimens, the researchers found the three -dimensional stacked cell structure and protein micro -original fiber on the swallow bow of Yunnan worms for the first time. These two fine micro -structures are unique to vertebrate cell cartilage and prove that Yunnan worm is a primitive vertebrate.

The overall photo of Yunnan worm pharyngeal. (Zhao Fangchen, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geological Palace of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Before the identity of Yunnan insects was "certified", the oldest vertebrates generally believed that the oldest vertebrates were Kunming fish, which also came from the Chengjiang animal group. They are "same -age" animals living 518 million years ago. Where is the Yunnan worm than Kunming fish "old"? Zhao Fangchen, a researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Geological Palace, which led this study, explained that Yunnan worms are more "old", which means that it has more primitive characteristics and is closer to the evolution of vertebrates. For example, Kunming fish already has a primitive spine located on the back of the body, while Yunnan worms have no obvious spine.

In this study, through the evolutionary analysis method, the scientific research team further stuck the precise evolution of Yunnan worms. The analysis results confirmed that the Yunnan worm is in the most foundation of the vertebrate spectrum, between the tails and other vertebrates.

"The many original characteristics of Yunnan worms may be the key bridge in the evolutionary long river. Human beings may be able to solve the mystery of vertebrates from it." Zhao Fangchen said.

Source: "Xinhua View Point" WeChat public account

Edit: Zhang Yin Di

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