Naslov
The mitochondrial genome analysis of unique cave dweller sponge Eunapius subterraneus Sket & Velikonja, 1984

Autori
Lukić-Bilela, Lada ; Pleše, Bruna ; Bruvo- Mađarić, Branka ; Imešek, Mirna ; Bilandžija, Helena ; Ćetković, Helena

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
ICSB 2010 Abstract Book / Moškrič, Ajda ; Trontelj, Peter - Postojna : Organizing Committee ICSB, 2010, 62-62

ISBN
978-961-269-286-5

Skup
20 th International Conference on Subterranean Biology

Mjesto i datum
Postojna, Slovenija, 29.08.2010. - 03.09.2010

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Porifera; sponges; Eunapius subterraneus; mitochondrial DNA
(Porifera; spongia; Eunapius subterraneus; mitochondrial DNA)

Sažetak
Fossil traces extracted from rock sediments in an oil field on the Arabian Peninsula, dating back between 635 million and 750 million years ago, are implying that sponges (Porifera) are the oldest known animals. Hence, we can postulate that sponges were the only animal present until about 580 million years ago, when other complex life forms began to evolve. Life on Earth was severe in this period and deep seas did not yet contain oxygen, therefore sponges inhabited shallow ocean basins. Sponges evolved along with physico-chemical changes in environment which gave rise to the big bang of metazoan radiation prior to the period of Cambrian Explosion. Althought sponges posses plain morphology (absence of organs and tissues) and their phylogenetic position is at the base of the kingdom Metazoa several studies showed that sponges have strikingly complex genomes. Furthermore, their gene content and functional repertoire are more related to their orthologs in human that to either Drosophila melanogaster or Caenorhabditis elegans counterparts, so studies of these living fossils are important in terms of evolution and phylogeny. Sponges are mainly marine but a few taxa within Demospongiae (suborder Spongillina) live in freshwater. Cave fauna stands out among all other freshwater biota owning peculiar species which are usually distinct from that of surrounding freshwater habitats. Eunapius subterraneus is the only stygobitic member of the suborder Spongillina, therefore it was a challenge to elucidate the origin of this unique sponge by obtaining the complete mitochondrial genome data. Hopefully, more freshwater sponge mitochondrial DNA sequences will be available so that the phylogeny of this group could be completely resolved and progress in studies of biology, evolution, biodiversity and efficient conservation will be possible.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA