Metamorphosis genes are expressed early during Molgula occulta and Molgula oculata development

Ascidians and vertebrates share very similar chordate characteristics during their developmental stages. Since both lineages have highly conserved genomes we are able to make evolutionary comparisons between the two subphyla at the genome level (Dehal et al, 2002). By further exploring metamorphosis in the ascidians, we may be able to develop insight into the evolution of their unusual adult body plan