Ancient Signal Confirms What The Very First Animals Truly Looked Like

Ever since scientists began to understand evolution, they've been arguing over the contentious question of what, exactly, the first animal looked like.

Based on genetic analysis, some say today's common sponges (aka demosponges , Porifera) are most like our original animal ancestor; others argue comb jellies better fit the bill.

New research led by scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) tips the scales in favor of team sponge, piecing together chemical clues that suggest these animals emerged during the Neoproterozoic era, more than 541 million years ago.

Unfortunately, the fossil record only provides a very patchy picture of the early days of animals. It's particularly difficult to track down evidence for soft-bodied animals, like comb jellies and sponges, since