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MIT study finds Earth’s first animals were likely ancient sea sponges
- MIT researchers link ancient sponge remains to early animal life using chemical fossils in rocks over 541 million years old.
- The study connects C30 and C31 steranes found in Precambrian rocks to modern demosponges.
- Laboratory tests showed that synthesized sterols can transform into C31 sterane analogs matching the rocks.
- The research builds on a 2009 discovery and expands the search to Oman, western India, and Siberia.
- The team argues the chemical fossils are of biological origin rather than results of nonbiological chemistry.
- The team confirms a link between sterane signals and demosponges through modern sponge chemistry and lab synthesis.
- Researchers aim to broaden geographic sampling to better pinpoint when early animals emerged.
- The discovery places sponge ancestors among the earliest animals, predating many groups.
- The study identifies sterane biomarkers as robust indicators of ancient animal life, not contaminants.
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