Yong Yuanyuan

Description of the research project :

The Cambrian Explosion (~540 Ma) was a pivotal event in animal evolution, marked by the rapid emergence of skeleton-bearing organisms. Among these, cnidarians (the group including jellyfish and corals) played a key role. While skeletons of anthozoans are well-known, the skeletal biology of medusozoans remains poorly understood. The Kuanchuanpu Formation (~535 Ma, southern China) preserves exceptional phosphatized fossils of early medusozoans, offering unique insights into their anatomy and skeletal development. My project focuses on three early medusozoan groups—Carinachitidae, Anabaritidae, and Olivooidae. Carinachitidae, the largest cnidarian fossils from the formation, show special exoskeletal structures, but their origin and formation processes are unclear. By using SEM and synchrotron imaging, we aim to determine whether these layers are biological or diagenetic in origin.
By comparing the ultrastructure of Cambrian forms with those of modern cnidarians such as Scyphistoma., we will explore how early skeletons formed and evolved. This study will contribute to understanding early biomineralization pathways and the origins of skeletal diversity in cnidarians during the Cambrian Explosion.

Contract starting date  : 01/09/2025

Contract end date (if applicable) : 31/08/2027

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