Origin and Evolution of Cambrian Vertebrate

    Under the support of NSFC since 1991, Prof. Shu Degan and his colleagues from the Northwest University have made significant progress on the research of the origin of major animal groups and the Cambrian explosion. Their work received special commentaries and recognition from some authoritative publications such as Nature, Science and La Recherche, and was documented into various encyclopedias, college textbooks and science museums in Britain, US, Germany, France and Japan. It was also selected as one of the top ten scientific and technical advances in China in 1999. Five of Shu's papers have been published in Nature with him as the first author.

Myllokunminggia--the earliest known vertebrate (upper) and Haikouichthys (lower).

Prof. Shu Degan was awarded the only first prize in the 2nd ceremony of "Changjiang Scholars Award".

Myllokunminggia and human being, the bottom and top end correspondingly on the vertebrate tree.

Cathaymyrus diadexus--the earliest cephalochordate known by now.

Xidazoon--a peculiar transition type from protostomia to deuterostomia.