Placozoa
An introduction to Placozoans
In this module I want to introduce you to the animal phylum “Placozoa” and provide examples for placozoans as important model systems in basic and applied research. So let`s start with the history and basic biology of these enigmatic animals.
Placozoan biodiversity, evolution, and the placula hypothesis
After we have learned some fundamental basics about the biology of placozoans, we are now going to have a closer look on the remarkable but widely hidden biodiversity within this phylum. We will discuss different and quite interesting aspects on the evolution of Placozoa.
Placozoa as a versatile research model
In the third part of this module, we want to take a look at the potential and usability of placozoans as model organisms in ecological, evolutionary and biomedical research.
Teacher: Bernd Schierwater