Students
At Shape of Life we believe PLAY is the best form of science research. We encourage everyone to lift rocks and get messy. A whole world opens up from our curiosity.
Handout Material
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Handout
Constructing the Tree of Life HandoutFull Handout Material
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Factsheet
Cambrian ExplosionThe Cambrian Explosion was a burst of animal evolution that occurred in the ocean about 540 million years ago.
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Reading
Cambrian Explosion: A BIG BANG in the Evolution of AnimalsFor most of Earth's early history, there simply was no fossil record. Only recently have we come to discover otherwise: Life is virtually as old as the planet itself, and even the most ancient sedimentary rocks have yielded fossilized remains of primitive forms of life.
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Features
Creature
Comb Jelly (Ctenophore)
Ctenophores are absolutely beautiful creatures. Known as comb jellies, they use eight longitudinal rows of cilia for locomotion. When the cilia beat, light is scattered, producing a rainbow of colors.
Find Out More Here
Comb Jelly (Ctenophore)
Ctenophores are absolutely beautiful creatures. Known as comb jellies, they use eight longitudinal rows of cilia for locomotion. When the cilia beat, light is scattered, producing a rainbow of colors. Find Out More Here
Did you Know?
WHAT?! Comb Jellies are the FIRST ANIMAL!
If you look closely at the Tree of Life on our website, you will see a question mark on the ctenophore branch. See the new first animal.
WHAT?! Comb Jellies are the FIRST ANIMAL!
If you look closely at the Tree of Life on our website, you will see a question mark on the ctenophore branch. See the new first animal.
Scientist
Henry Gee, Senior Editor, Biological Sciences, Nature; writer and narrator of the animated Tree of Life
Henry Gee is a self-confessed, card-carrying “Paleo-nerd”. Like the Tree of Life, once he starts creating, you just can’t keep Henry down.
Henry Gee, Senior Editor, Biological Sciences, Nature; writer and narrator of the animated Tree of Life
Henry Gee is a self-confessed, card-carrying “Paleo-nerd”. Like the Tree of Life, once he starts creating, you just can’t keep Henry down.