后生动物起源与进化的分子系统学研究进展

后生动物的起源与进化问题一直是动物学、古生物学和进化生物学研究的重要课题,传统上,对其系统发生和亲缘关系的探讨主要是基于比较形态学和比较胚胎学的证据,然而,随着分子遗传学和分子发育生物学的不断进展及其在相关研究领域的普遍运用,从遗传基础和发育机理上追踪动物各分类群间的系统发生关系已经成为可能。本文就近年来后生动物高级分类群（主要为“门”一级）的分子系统发生研究及其研究中存在的一些问题作了较为系统的综述,同时就后生动物系统发生研究的前景作了展望。     

"寒武纪爆发"事件及其成因述评

主要后生动物门类化石在寒武纪初期的突然出现记录了生命史中一个从未有过的快速演化时期,这一事件被称为“寒武纪爆发(Cambrian explosion)”．多年来有关“寒武纪爆发”成因的各种猜测从未间断过．但是,将古生物化石记录看成是生物进化过程中种系形成的真实过程已遭到许多研究者的非议,这主要取决于以下二方面的证据：一是对早期后生动物系统发生关系的重新评估;二是来自于分子系统学和分子钟的研究．现在看来,“寒武纪爆发”事件的产生,一方面归因于化石体积的明显增加及其伴随的骨骼化过程,另一方面可能是其时的进化革新事件所导致．     

Independent evolution of striated muscles in cnidarians and bilaterians

Striated muscles are present in bilaterian animals (for example, vertebrates, insects and annelids) and some non-bilaterian eumetazoans (that is, cnidarians and ctenophores). The considerable ultrastructural similarity of striated muscles between these animal groups is thought to reflect a common evolutionary origin. Here we show that a muscle protein core set, including a type II myosin heavy chain (MyHC) motor protein characteristic of striated muscles in vertebrates, was already present in unicellular organisms before the origin of multicellular animals. Furthermore, 'striated muscle' and 'non-muscle' myhc orthologues are expressed differentially in two sponges, compatible with a functional diversification before the origin of true muscles and the subsequent use of striated muscle MyHC in fast-contracting smooth and striated muscle. Cnidarians and ctenophores possess striated muscle myhc orthologues but lack crucial components of bilaterian striated muscles, such as genes that code for titin and the troponin complex, suggesting the convergent evolution of striated muscles. Consistently, jellyfish orthologues of a shared set of bilaterian Z-disc proteins are not associated with striated muscles, but are instead expressed elsewhere or ubiquitously. The independent evolution of eumetazoan striated muscles through the addition of new proteins to a pre-existing, ancestral contractile apparatus may serve as a model for the evolution of complex animal cell types.     

Tetraradial symmetry in early poriferans

Here is currently little consensus on the branching order and phyletic status of the oldest metazoan groups, but sponges are widely believed to be the earliest- branching living metazoans. Porifera are thought to have diverged before the emergence of developmental charac- ters typical of Eumetazoa, such as well-defined symmetry; extant sponges show radial symmetry of indeterminate high order, or none, combined with polarisation along the axis. In contrast, other early-branching phyla include bilateral and tetraradial （Cnidaria） and biradial （Cte- nophora） symmetry, or none （Placozoa）. A variety of prismatic early fossil sponges had shown here where the shared symmetry has been overlooked, and also describe structural tetraradial symmetry in Cambrian sponges from South China. Based on this study, this symmetry is likely to have been a primitive feature of sponges, and that the earliest-known fossil sponges were highly organised, cel- lularly integrated individuals whose body form was under strict genetic control.     

New observations on spiculelike structures from Doushantuo phosphorites at Weng’an, Guizhou Province

Doushantuo phosphorites at Weng’an, Guizhou Province, provide a unique opportunity for the study of early evolution of multicellular organisms, including metazoans. Our light microscope and SEM observations, however, do not substantiate a sponge spicule interpretation of spicular structures. No convincing axial canals have been seen in the observed spicule population. Instead, the coexistence of some monaxonal spicules with clearly diagenetic crystal fascicles and dumbbells suggest that these monaxons may also be diagenetic in origin. Our preliminary EDS analyses detect no significant silicon in spicule-containing intraclasts (including abiotic clasts and fragments of sphaeromorphic acritarchs and algal thalli), that contain abundant monaxonal spicular structures. We, therefore, believe that the evidence for a sponge spicule interpretation of the Doushantuo spicular structures are at best ambiguous at present; these alleged sponge spicules are indistinguishable from coexistent diagenetic crystals.     

Phylogenetic position of Ephedra rhytidosperma, a species endemic to China： Evidence from chloroplast and ribosomal DNA sequences

The chloroplast genes matK and rbcL, ribosomal gene 18S and ITS regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA from Ephedra rhytidosperma, a species endemic to China, were sequenced and its phylogenetic position was investigated. Independent and combined phylogenetic analyses for the DNA sequences from 16 taxa representing 15 species of the genus Ephedra were performed using the maximum parsimony （MP）, neighbor-joining （N J）, minimum evolution （ME） and maximum likelihood （ML） methods. The results indicate that E. rhytidosperma is closely related to E. equisetina. The divergence time between them is estimated to be 10.85±2.44 Ma based on the results of the relative-rate tests and the evolutionary rate of rbcL gene.     

Phylogeny and divergence of Chinese Angiopteridaceae based on chloroplast DNA sequence data （rbcL and trnL-F）

Marattioid ferns are an ancient lineage of primitive vascular plants that first appeared in the middle Carboniferous. Extant members are almost exclusively restricted to tropical regions, and the spe- cies-rich family Angiopteridaceae are limited in their distribution to the eastern hemisphere; relation- ships within the group are currently vague. Here the phylogenetic relationship between Angiopteris Hoffm. and Archangiopteris Christ et Gies. was evaluated based on the sequence analysis of chloro- plast rbcL gene and trnL-F intergenic spacer with MEGA2 and MrBayes v3.0b4. On the basis of the phy- logenetic pattern and fossil record, we further estimated the divergence time for the two genera. The phy- logenetic trees revealed that all species of Angiopteris and Archangiopteris in this study formed a monophyletic group with strong statistical support, but the relationship between the two genera re- mained unresolved based on individual sequence analysis. On the other hand, the sequence analyses of combined data set revealed that Archangiopteris species diverged first, indicating that Archangiop- teris may not be a direct derivative as traditionally assumed. The clade of Angiopteris and Archan- giopteris appears to have diversified in the late Oligocene (≈26 Ma) based on the molecular estimate. Thus, the evolutionary history of extant Angiopteris and Archangiopteris has been characterized by ancient origin and recent diversification, and these groups are not relic and endangered lineages as traditionally considered.     

Estimating divergence times among subfamilies in Nymphalidae

The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit Ⅰ （COⅠ） gene and the nuclear elongation factor 1α （EF-1α） gene were sequenced from 13 species of Nymphalidae. Phylogenetic trees of Nymphalidae, which is the largest family in butterflies, were constructed based on the sequences determined from 13 species sequenced in our laboratory and an additional 43 species obtained from GenBank using the maximum likelihood （ML） and Bayesian methods. Relative-rate tests between lineages in these phylogenetic trees were performed. On the basis of the results of the relative-rate tests and fossil information of Satyrinae, Nymphalinae and Biblidinae, the average divergence times among the subfamilies are estimated as 44.2-87.1 million years ago （Ma）. These results will be helpful for better understanding of the origin and evolution of this family, as well as the divergence time of butterflies and other complex taxa.     

The evolutionary foundation of genomic imprinting in lower vertebrates

In mammals,genomic imprinting confers developmental asymmetry and complementation on the parental genomes and makes both parental genomes essential for complete development.Genomic imprinting is,therefore,the first regulatory step of genome-wide gene expression of embryogenesis and thought to be the epigenetic foundation of bisexual reproduction.However,how the genomic imprinting is originated,established and maintained during vertebrate evolution remains unknown.Because no endogenous imprinting gene has be...     

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence and the phylogenetic position of Achalinus meiguensis (Reptilia: Squamata)

The mitochondrial genome complete sequence of Achalinus meiguensis was reported for the first time in the present study. The complete mitochondrial genome of A. meiguensis is 17239 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA, and 2 non-coding regions (Control regions). On the basis of comparison with the other complete mitochondrial sequences reported, we explored the characteristic of structure and evolution. For example, duplication control regions independently occurred in the evolutionary history of reptiles; the pseudo-tRNA of snakes occurred in the Caenophidia; snake is shorter than other vertebrates in the length of tRNA because of the truncations of TψC arm (less than 5 bp) and “DHU“ arm. The phylogenic analysis by MP and BI analysis showed that the phylogenetic position of A. meiguensis was placed in Caenophidia as a sister group to other advanced snakes with the exclusion of Acrochordus granulatus which was rooted in the Caenophidia. Therefore we suggested that the subfamily Xenodermatinae, which contains A. meiguensis, should be raised to a family rank or higher rank. At the same time, based on the phylogenic statistic test, the tree of Bayesian was used for estimating the divergence time. The results showed that the divergence time between Henophidia and Caenophidia was 109.50 Mya; 106.18 Mya for divergence between Acrochordus granulatus and the other snakes of the Caenophidia; the divergence time of A. meiguensis was 103 Mya, and Viperidae diverged from the unilateral of Elapidae and Colubridae was 96.06 Mya.     

Investisations into the perplexing interrelationship of the Genus Takifugu Abe, 1949 （Tetraodontiformes,Tetraodontidae）

The phylogenetic relationships within the genus Takifugu Abe, 1949 （Tetraodontiformes, Tetraodontidae） remain unresolved. Because of the use of Takifugu as model organisms, the resolution of these relationships is crucial for the interpretation of evolutionary trends in biology. Pufferfishes of this genus are comprised of a comparatively small number of species and are mainly distributed along the coastal region of the western part of the Sea of Japan and the coastline of China. Mitochondrial gene sequences were employed to test the phylogenetic hypotheses within the genus. Seventeen species of the genus were examined. Molecular phylogenetic trees were constructed using the maximum parsi- mony, neighbor-joining, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. Our hypothesis of internal relationships within the genus differs from previous hypotheses. Our results indicate that （1） the genus Takifugu is a monophyletic assemblage; （2） the genus is divided into 6 subgroups based on the moecular data; and （3） there is low genetic diversity among the species within this genus. In addition, speciation within Takifugu appears to be driven by hybridization and isolation by distribution. Our results also suggested that the taxonomy in the genus should be clarified based on both molecular and morphological data.     

New discovery of fossil cycad-like plants from the Middle Jurassic of West Liaoning,China

The Cycadales are one of the most ancient lineages of seed plants, with a fossil record that extends over 250 mil- lion years. Cycads are believed to have originated from the Late Palaeozoic, and reached its maximum diversity and distribution during the Mesozoic; however, their evo- lutionary history has remained relatively poorly under- stood[1―4]. This largely results from the lack of anatomi- cally well preserved fossil evidence and reproductive re- mains. In recent years, more researche…     

取心工具用大尺寸疏水吸油海绵的制备与吸油性能研究

海绵取心工具（取心衬筒）中一种关键材料是高吸油海绵，为了满足钻井取心的使用需求，需要制备大尺寸、超疏水的吸油海绵。利用多巴胺（DA）氧化自聚（以NaIO₄为氧化剂）以及聚多巴胺（PDA）与疏水剂（十八胺，ODA）的反应，采用一步和两步浸涂法对小尺寸（30 mm×30 mm×10 mm）和大尺寸（910 mm×400 mm×10 mm）商用三聚氰胺海绵进行疏水改性；利用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）观察改性海绵的表面形貌，并测定其水接触角和吸油性能。结果表明：改性海绵表面形成了PDA粒子，两步法所得改性海绵的表面粒子细密、均匀；增大DA的质量浓度和提高氧化剂含量，海绵表面PDA粒子增多。确定了海绵改性的最优条件：DA质量浓度为4~6 mg/mL，DA与NaIO₄的质量比为1：1，海绵在ODA溶液中的浸泡时间为2~4 h。在小尺寸样品研究结果的基础上，将大尺寸海绵在DA溶液中浸泡1 min，在空气中放置2 h，然后与ODA溶液反应4 h进行改性，所得大尺寸改性海绵的表面水接触角为152.6°，10 s时吸油量达90 g/g，并且多次吸油、析油后仍保持较高的吸油量和解析率，可以满足取心衬筒的使用要求。     

A new feathered maniraptoran dinosaur fossil that fills a morphological gap in avian origin

Recent fossil discoveries have substantially reduced the morphological gap between non-avian and avian dinosaurs, yet avians including Archaeopteryx differ from non-avian theropods in their limb proportions. In particular, avians have proportionally longer and more robust forelimbs that are capable of supporting a large aerodynamic surface. Here we report on a new maniraptoran dinosaur, Anchiornis huxleyi gen. et sp. nov., based on a specimen collected from lacustrine deposits of uncertain age in western Liaoning, China. With an estimated mass of 110 grams, Anchiornis is the smallest known non-avian theropod dinosaur. It exhibits some wrist features indicative of high mobility, presaging the wing-folding mechanisms seen in more derived birds and suggesting rapid evolution of the carpus. Otherwise, Anchiornis is intermediate in general morphology between non-avian and avian dinosaurs, particularly with regard to relative forelimb length and thickness, and represents a transitional step toward the avian condition. In contrast with some recent comprehensive phylogenetic analyses, our phylogenetic analysis incorporates subtle morphological variations and recovers a conventional result supporting the monophyly of Avialae. Supported by Hundred Talents Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40125006, 40472018), and National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB806400)     

广西5种常见星虫动物的线粒体基因组特征和系统进化分析

为探明广西北部湾星虫动物的线粒体基因组遗传变异和基因序列特征,采用高通量测序测定广西北部湾5种常见星虫动物的线粒体基因组,并对其基因序列特征、遗传变异、系统进化进行分析。结果显示,星虫动物线粒体基因组具有典型的无脊椎动物线粒体基因组的特征,基因排列高度保守,特别是其13个蛋白质编码基因（PCGs）。此外,星虫动物线粒体基因组的基因均编码在H链上,并存在3个高度保守的基因排列区块,与环节动物和螠虫动物线粒体基因组特征较为相似。cox1、cox2和cob等3个基因进化速率最慢、遗传变异水平最低,适合作为星虫动物种属系统进化研究以及不同种间生物条形码构建的分子标记。nad6、nad4、nad5和nad2等4个基因的遗传变异水平较高（大于60%）,变异位点数量较多,适合作为星虫动物种群遗传多样性研究的分子标记。星虫动物线粒体13个蛋白质编码基因的Ka/Ks比值均低于1（0.058 2-0.726 6）,其中cox1、cox3和cob等3个基因的Ka/Ks比值最低（小于0.1）,表明在星虫动物线粒体遗传进化过程中,这3个蛋白质编码基因承受强烈的自然选择压力和功能束缚。基于线粒体基因组蛋白质编码基因系统进化树的研究结果表明,星虫动物可分为方格星虫纲和革囊星虫纲两个进化分支,星虫动物与环节动物的进化地位、亲缘关系较近,而与软体动物的亲缘关系较远。本研究结果不仅为广西北部湾特色星虫动物渔业资源多样性调查和保护提供分子遗传数据,也为星虫动物系统进化研究提供了科学参考。     

Discovery of carbonaceous compressions and their multicellular tissues from the Changzhougou formation (1800 Ma) in the Yanshan range, North China

In 1997 and 1998, hundreds of specimens of megascopic carbonaceous compressions or algal fossils were found from ∼ 1800-million-year old Changzhougou Formation, which is the lowermost unit of the latest Palaeoproterozoic Changcheng Group (∼1 600–1 800 Ma) in the Xinglong-Kuancheng areas at the middle Yanshan Range, North China. They are discoid, ellipsoid and sausage-like, namely shaped likeChuaria Shouhsiennia (Ellipsophyta) andTawuia. By adopting HF acid-resistant maceration coupled with scanning electron microscope and petrologic section, the authors made a preliminary research on the histology for some circular and ellipsoid carbonaceous compressions, namelyChuaria- andShouhsienia-like forms, in addition to their morphology. The following three types of multicellular tissues have been found in the fragments of them: colony-like, pseudoparenchyma-like and parenchyma-like. All of the new data about multicelluar tissues not only supply a very important basis in histology to determine the biological affinity of multicellular algal remains for the Changzhougou carbonaceous compressions newly found, but also provide reliable fossil evidence to prove that metaphytes originated at least 1 800 million years ago.     

贵州新元古代瓮安生物群中动物胚胎化石研究进展

 瓮安生物群指产出于贵州瓮安磷矿地区新元古代埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱组（635~551Ma）上磷矿段的一个特殊磷酸盐化微体化石组合,主要由多细胞藻类、大型带刺疑源类和处于不同发育阶段的多种后生动物胚胎组成,并包括少量可能的后生动物幼虫和成体化石。瓮安生物群作为迄今为止世界上最古老的前寒武纪后生动物化石群,为探索后生动物的起源和早期演化历程提供了独一无二的实证记录。10余年来,瓮安生物群中动物胚胎化石的研究取得多项突破性进展,已确认至少5种不同卵裂方式的动物胚胎化石,胚胎化石分类从单纯的形态学分类向生物学分类转变,为揭示瓮安生物群中动物多样性提供了更多线索。同时,相关研究更新了繁盛于埃迪卡拉纪大型带刺疑源类生物属性的传统认识,并将之与有表面装饰的动物休眠卵（滞育胚胎）化石相联系。同步辐射X射线显微CT技术的应用成功解决了胚胎化石三维无损成像难题,为古胚胎学的发展带来了新的机遇。     

硅烷改性三聚氰胺海绵的制备及其油水分离性能研究

利用甲基三甲氧基硅烷和二甲基二甲氧基硅烷水解后形成的水解液涂覆于三聚氰胺海绵上,成功制备了疏水亲油海绵。通过扫描电镜、X射线光电子能谱、傅里叶红外光谱、接触角和吸油能力测试等方法,对硅烷改性三聚氰胺海绵进行了表征。结果表明,硅烷改性使得本身亲水的三聚氰胺海绵表面转变为疏水状态,水的接触角可达149±0.5°,对八种油品或有机试剂的吸油能力可达到自重的47-60倍,使用达200次后吸附容量仅降低了17.7%,分离效率在96%以上。除此外,改性的海绵还具有较好的耐酸碱、耐盐和耐有机溶剂的特性,在溢油回收方面展现了良好的应用前景。