Simplified tree of eukaryotic life highlighting newly discovered lineage. (IMAGE)
Caption
This figure presents a modern tree of Life, highlighting eukaryotes (organisms with complex cells) based on genome-scale analyses from Valt et al. (2025). The newly identified and ancient supergroup Disparia is shown alongside other major branches, including several formerly unplaced protist lineages and the new organism Solarion arienae. Colored dots mark the positions of well-known complex multicellular groups such as animals, plants, fungi, and seaweeds, providing familiar reference points on the tree. Built using large gene datasets and advanced phylogenomic tools (including PhyloFisher, originally developed in the Brown Lab), this tree illustrates how new genomic discoveries continue to reshape our understanding of early eukaryotic evolution.
Credit
Matthew W. Brown, Ph.D.
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