Definition of Phylogenetic Terms

Definition of Phylogenetic Terms

Here are explanations of some of the phylogenetic terms used in our kinase annotations:

Chordates consist of Vertebrates and a few related groups, such as Tunicates (sea squirts like Ciona sp., Oikopleura, Halocynthia) and lancelets (including Branchiostoma sp.).

Deuterostomes consist of Vertebrates and their sister-group, the Echinoderms (sea stars, sea urchins and their relatives).

Protostomes, are most of the advanced animals (Bilateria) which are not Deuterostomes. Includes arthropods (insects, spiders etc.), nematodes, molluscs and annelids.

Bilateria = Protostomes + Deuterostomes.

Eumetazoa = Bilateria + non-bilateria (comb jellies, cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones) and placozoans.

Metazoa = Eumetazoa + sponges

Holozoa consist of animals, choanoflagellates , and a few other unicellular groups, including Filasteria and Icthyosporea, from which a few genomes have been sequenced.

Opisthokonts include fungi and holozoa (=animals, choanoflagellates etc.)