Oldest 'Animal' Fossils Reclassified

New images suggest that 570-million-year-old, multicellular blobs from China are not animal embryos as once thought, but rather some kind of spore-releasing cyst. The fossils come from the Doushantuo rock formation in southern China. Once thought to represent algae, the fossils were reclassified as animals in 1998 based on how their cells divided.

In other news of the ancient past, researchers say scans of the genomes of African-Americans show evidence of natural selection as their ancestors adapted to the harsh conditions of their new environment in America.

The British Museum's first exhibition devoted to the horse will include a display tracing the animal's story across thousands of years of human history. The free exhibition, which will open in May, has been timed to coincide with the Olympic Games.

IN THIS SECTION

About Science in the News

Pizza Lunch Podcasts

Science in the News

BROWSE BY

- Nobrow Cartoons

- Pizza Lunch Podcasts

- Science In The News Daily

- Science in the News Weekly

- Topic

Science in the Media

Newspapers:

Magazines and Web Sites:

The Science-Media Intersection:

Science Blogs

Subscribe to Our Content!

Visit our RSS Feeds page to choose among 13 customized feeds, or create a free My AmSci account to request an email notice whenever a specified author, department or discipline appears online.

EMAIL TO A FRIEND :

Of Possible Interest

Science In The News Daily: Fossil Ink Sacs Yield Jurassic Pigment--A First

Science In The News Daily: Revenge of the Weeds

Science In The News Daily: Deeper Digging Needed to Decode a Best Friend's Genetic Roots

Sites of Interest

Duxbury Ventures Websites

München Fair Hotels

ABC Fundraising

Promotional Products

Business Cards

Checking Account

Home Loan

Check out weight loss hq for good advice.

Made-in-China.com

Elaine Hochberg