A Molecular Phylogeny of the Metazoa

后生动物包括地球上所有不同的动物群， 地球 了解这些群体的方式 形式和栖息地的多样性受到缺乏 关于它们之间精确关系的信息。 序列 线粒体DNA分子中碱基的排列和 它编码的基因将被确定为代表 包括在这项研究中的每一个主要群体。 这些数据将 结合已发表的线粒体DNA序列数据， 其他群体的成员，然后进行分析， 更好地了解基因之间的关系 不同的动物群体。 使用的数据来自，两个不同的 分子水平（DNA碱基序列和基因排列），提供 内部一致性检查是适当和必要的 当研究这些不同的和远亲的群体时。 的 这项研究的结果将构成第一个明确的基础， 的形式，多样性和生态的趋势分析， 后生动物

The Metazoa includes all of the diverse groups of animals on Earth. An understanding of the manner in which these groups have diversified in form and habitat is hampered by the lack of information concerning their precise relationships. The sequence of bases in the mitochondrial DNA molecule and the arrangements of the genes encoded by it will be determined for a representative of each major group included in this study. These data will be combined with published sequence data for the mitochondrial DNAs of members of other groups, and then analyzed with the goal of achieving a better understanding of the genetic relationships among the various groups of animals. The use of data from, two different molecular levels (DNA base sequence and gene arrangement), provides an internal check for consistency and is appropriate and necessary when studying such dissimilar and distantly related groups. The results of this study will form the basis for the first clear analysis of trends in the form, diversity, and ecology of the Metazoa.