Evolution of Deuterostome Animals: A Look at their Development and Relationship to Bilateral Symmetry

Deuterostome animals evolved before there were animals with bilateral symmetry…..

Actually, the statement you mentioned is not accurate

Actually, the statement you mentioned is not accurate. Deuterostome animals did not evolve before animals with bilateral symmetry. In fact, deuterostomes are a group of animals that are characterized by their early embryonic development. They belong to the larger group of animals called Bilateria, which includes animals with bilateral symmetry.

Bilateral symmetry refers to the arrangement of body parts or structures along a central axis, dividing the body into two mirror-image halves. This symmetry evolved as an adaptation to efficient movement through the environment and the development of complex organ systems.

Deuterostomes include several major animal phyla, such as chordates (which includes humans and other vertebrates), echinoderms (such as starfish and sea urchins), and hemichordates (such as acorn worms). These animals all share a common embryonic development pattern, where the first opening to form during gastrulation becomes the anus, while the mouth is formed later.

The evolution of deuterostomes with bilateral symmetry happened after the development of animals with radial symmetry. Radial symmetry is observed in simpler animals like jellyfish and sea anemones, where their body parts are arranged around a central axis, like the spokes of a wheel.

Therefore, it is more accurate to say that deuterostome animals evolved after the emergence of animals with bilateral symmetry.

More Answers: