Holozoan

Kinase Glossary: Holozoan

Holozoa are a group of eukaryotes that include all animals (Metazoan)s as well as the closely-related unicellular Choanoflagellates (sequenced genomes include Monosiga brevicollis and Salpingoeca rosetta), and possibly a slightly more divergent lineage, the Filasteria (which includes the recently sequenced genome of Capsaspora owczarzaki). These unicellular holozoa have a large number of kinases and other genes that were previously thought to be animal-specific. The closest major out-group of the holozoa are the fungi.