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Developmental sequence of Cambrian embryo Markuelia

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Based on more exquisitely preserved specimens of Markuelia hunanensis recently recovered from Middle and Upper Cambrian in western Hunan and in the light of Synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy, the developmental sequence from cleavage through organogenesis to the pre-hatching of Cambrian embryo Markuelia, especially the developmental sequence during the pre-hatching stage, i.e. from the earliest period when the scalids and tail spines only took shape to the latest period (just about hatching), is established. This developmental sequence provides a pattern of embryonic development during the pre-hatching stage, which has not been established in the living scalidophorans (priapulids, loriciferans and kinorhynchs). Thus, it not only enriches our knowledge on the embryonic development of the extant descendants of Markuelia, but also opens a new window to the evolution and development of the animal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Dong XiPing

  2. Laboratory of Palaeobiology & Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Dong XiPing

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  1. Dong XiPing
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Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40572003 and 40372001), the Research Fund for Doctoral Program of High Education (Grant Nos. 20060001059 and 2000000127) and Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 023106)

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Dong, X. Developmental sequence of Cambrian embryo Markuelia . CHINESE SCI BULL 52, 929–935 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0137-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0137-9

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