Question

Provide evidence that multicellular animals evolved from a single celled choanoflagellate like protist.

Answer 1

Choanofla­gel­lates are the aquat­ic fil­ter-feed­ers which are commonly found all over the world in both fresh and marine water. Most of the researches shows that by some form of cell adhe­sion choanofla­gel­late-like ances­tor evolv­ing into a sponge-like ances­tor.

Choanoflagellates are closest living relatives to animals

Choanoflagellates are colonial protists.

Sponges are multicellular animals.

Sponges share characteristics with choanoflagellates:

1. Sessile life attached permanently to substrate.

2. Choanocytes cells with flagella used for feeding by trapping food particles.