In a new study published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, a team of scientists have decoded the genomes of two enigmatic tusk shells, providing valuable insights into the evolution of these ancient marine invertebrates.

Tusk shells, or scaphopods, are an ancient group of marine invertebrates that have survived for millions of years. Despite their evolutionary success, researchers know very little about their biology. To shed light on this mystery, an international team of scientists has decoded the genomes of two species of tusk shells. By comparing the tusk shells’ genomic data with that of other marine species, the researchers were able to gain valuable insights into the evolution of these animals. The team found that the tusk shells had some unique genetic features which may have contributed to their success in the oceans. They also discovered that the tusk shells had a complex evolutionary history, and that their genomes had undergone several distinct changes over the course of their evolution. This groundbreaking study provides valuable new information about the biology of tusk shells, and helps to fill in some of the gaps in our understanding of these ancient creatures.

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source: Phys.org