Precursor of a Backbone Unveiled: Sea Creature Fossil Rewrites History
Cambridge, United Kingdom – In a groundbreaking study published in Current Biology, scientists have reevaluated the anatomy of Pikaia, an extinct ribbonlike sea creature dating back to 508 million years ago. Previously believed to have a dorsal organ near its back and a presumed blood vessel, researchers have now discovered that these structures were actually located in the animal’s gut and were part of its nerve cord, placing Pikaia within the foundational lineage of all …