Permian Museum announces the addition of Nematode Fossils

SEDONA, Ariz. - July 7, 2023 - PRLog -- Permian Museum announced the addition of nematode fossils to its free  "On the Origin of Life and Biodiversity"  online book.

Nematodes (roundworms and eelworms) are the earliest known multicellular life forms on earth and some estimates put their origins back to Pre-Cambrian times, or before 543 million years ago.  Today, nematodes represent 90% of all animals on the ocean floor and often exceed a million individuals per square meter in earth's topsoil.

"Nematodes are basically a mobile intestine, with a mouth, anus, and gonads.  They are effectively the core blueprint for all multicellular life forms, including humans,"  according to Mark Zamoyski, Permian Museum's curator and author of "On the Origin of Life and Biodiversity".   "Many nematodes are microscopic, and others are transparent, making their discovery as fossils difficult.  The first photo shows some unusually large nematodes fossilized on the ocean floor as well as a sectioned transparent nematode specimen, with only a mouth and eye dot on the left side distinguishable, representative of why they are so hard to spot."

"Since nematodes were present during both the Cambrian and Permian explosions of life, our fossils provide a rare glimpse of  how nematode DNA developed into boneless fish in both periods.  When Calcium Secreting Filter Feeder (CSFF)  DNA was integrated into these life forms, they went on to become boned fish. Boned fish like the lung fish are believed to be forerunners of terrestrial tetrapods, such as dinosaurs."  Mr. Zamoyski added.  "The second photo shows two such sectioned specimens, the first an early boneless fish likely of nematode origin and the second a similar fish/worm but with integrated CSFF DNA, providing a glimpse of how boned life forms arose."

PermianMuseum.com ( https://www.permianmuseum.com )  hosts the free online reference text  "On the Origin of Life and Biodiversity", with no advertising and no tracking.  No money is made from the site.  It is dedicated to those with a thirst for science.  The fossil photos and illustrations on the site may be used royalty free, provided source disclosure is made as outlined on the website.

Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)



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