First True Animal Was a Tiny Jelly?
Who is man's oldest living relative? For those who subscribe to the evolution theory, there are only two creatures to choose from: sponges or jellies.
For years now, scientists have been debating which of these two creatures are the first true animals to have lived on our planet, Gizmodo reported.
A new study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution suggests that the creatures that first came into the world, the group that represents the oldest branch of the animal family tree, are the ancient jellies.
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However, the study made by the Vanderbilt University and University of Wisconsin-Madison is deemed not yet conclusive, given the highly interpretative nature of their findings. The researchers made their conclusions after determining that comb jellies have the most ancient genome, or the full DNA sequence, of any animal.
The researchers also conceded that although they've been using an advanced technique called phylogenetics—which allows them to read and compare the DNA of organisms—there are still many gaps among the numerous branches in the tree of life.
Even though phylogenetic techniques have resolved about 95 percent of all evolutionary relationships, 5 percent of cases remain unresolved, leading to controversies, they said.
The researchers noted that both sponges and jellies appeared on earth 500 to 700 million years ago. They said their study suggests that sponges evolved from jellies.
However, lead author Antonis Rokas admitted to Gizmodo that their study did not settle the sponges versus jellies controversy.
He said the difficulty lies in the sheer amount of genetic data involved in phylogenetic analyses, and how that data is interpreted.
Days before Rokas' team bared the results of their research, a similar study was published in Current Biology, in which scientists reached a very different conclusion—that sponges came first before the jellies.
The debate gets even more complicated when those who believe in Creationism join in.
The thorny evolution vs. creation debate is best exemplified by the exchanges between Ken Ham, founding president and CEO of Answers in Genesis, and Bill Nye, known popularly as "The Science Guy" for his scientific kids show.
As reported in CP in February 2014, Ham argued that "Creation is the only viable model of historical science confirmed by observational science in today's modern scientific era."
He said science supports his view of a historical six-day creation, as outlined in the first chapters of Genesis.
However, Nye believes such ideas are fanciful. "If you insist the natural laws have changed, for lack of a better word, that's magical," he said.
CP noted both debaters' five best arguments to support their respective stand.
In an attempt to tone down the controversy, a Vatican astronomer who embraces both science and religion said there is actually no conflict between the two, CP reported in March 2016.
Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, director of the Vatican Observatory, said scientists who reject religion are lacking in humility, while Christians who reject science believe they can tell God how he should have made the universe.
"To me (the issue) comes down to two problems: Scientists not having enough humility to understand, that they don't have all the answers and religion not having enough to recognize that they can't tell God how He should have made the universe," he said.
