Fossil Discovery Reveals Origins of Early Nervous Systems in Ecdysozoans

Researchers uncover 535-million-year-old fossils showing that the common ancestor of ecdysozoans likely had a single ventral nerve cord.

Fossils from the early Cambrian period, found in China's Kuanchuanpu Formation, reveal the structure of ancient ventral nerve cords in ecdysozoans.
The study suggests that the common ancestor of ecdysozoans, a group including insects, nematodes, and priapulid worms, had a single ventral nerve cord.
Paired ventral nerve cords observed in some modern ecdysozoans, like arthropods and kinorhynchs, likely evolved independently as derived traits.
The findings highlight a link between body segmentation and the evolution of paired nerve cords, which may have enhanced locomotion and coordination.
This research provides new insights into the evolutionary trajectory of nervous systems and underscores the importance of fossil records in understanding early animal development.