Gnathostomulids, or jaw worms, are a small phylum of nearly microscopic marine animals. Mostly between 0.5 and 1 mm long. Like flatworms they have a ciliated epidermis, but are unique in having but one cilium per cell (Ruppert, Fox & Barnes 2004). Having a bilaterally symmetrical pharynx with complex cuticular mouth parts, they appear closely related to rotifers and their allies, together making up the Gnathifera. Gnathostomulids have no fossil record.

More on [ Gnathostomulid ]

PLoS Medicine: New Articles


EurekAlert! - Biology

Study of islands reveals surprising extinction results
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(University of California - Santa Barbara) It's no secret that humans are having a huge impact on the life cycles of plants and animals. UC Santa Barbara's Steven D. Gaines and fellow researcher Dov Sax decided to test that theory by studying the world's far-flung islands. Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds surprising light on the subject of extinction rates of species on islands.
ABC-transporters expressed on endothelial cell membranes efflux anti-HIV drugs
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine) Researchers at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans have discovered that drug-efflux pumps, belonging to the ATP-binding cassette transporter family, are constitutively expressed on vascular endothelial cells. The study has crucial implications in the persistence of sub-endothelial HIV reservoirs and will be important to the development of future therapies.
Ecological Society of America criticizes administration's overhaul of the Endangered Species Act
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(Ecological Society of America) The Ecological Society of America today criticized the Bush administration's Aug. 15 proposal to reinterpret the Endangered Species Act, which would impose regulatory changes eliminating the requirement for federal projects to undergo independent scientific review. The proposal would allow federal agencies to decide for themselves whether their projects would harm endangered animals and plants.

Subscribe to Biology RSS feed