This talk will take us through the origin and initial
diversifications of animal life. One theme that will be very
prominent throughout is that of Konservat Lagerstätten, or sites
of exceptional fossil preservation. Whereas 99% of the fossil
record consists of bones, shells, teeth and other hard parts,
these localities preserve soft parts, such as muscle and tissue.
We will see just how important this is in general for
palaeontology, but also in the study of this particular topic of
the origin of animals. Read the rest of this entry »