New genes for new biology in animal evolution

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Despite being the result of several intertwined factors, the Cambrian Explosion could not have taken place without molecular evolution. Genetic diversity is partly responsible for the diversity of life observed today. Despite this, the understanding of the origin, function, and importance of evolutionary novel genes is currently limited, primarily due to the lack of previously available data. This project aims to use bioinformatic and laboratory methods to utilise the data published by the Darwin Tree of Life project, to further understand how the above factors relate to animal evolution and phenotype. This project aims to focus specifically on species within the Lepidoptera, Mammalia and Bilateria and compare results between them. Findings may assist in understanding which genes regulate specific developmental processes to give rise to the phenotypes of the aforementioned species and may even assist in understanding developmental abnormalities in living organisms and how they may arise.