What sets Vilesida apart, however, is its chemistry. The sponges produce unusual sterols, organic compounds known for their ability to lower \u2018bad\u2019 LDL cholesterol \u2013 specifically 24-isopropylcholesterols \u2013 as major components of their cell membranes. These sterols mirror fossil biomarkers found in Ediacaran rocks older than 600 million years, long suspected to indicate early animal life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese sterols are a perfect match with the oldest known animal biomarkers,\u201d explains Paco C\u00e1rdenas, curator at the Museum of Evolution and senior author of the study. \u201cOur results strengthen the sponge biomarker hypothesis, suggesting sponges \u2013 and therefore animals \u2013 originated far earlier than previously believed.\u201d<\/p>\n
This emerging picture aligns with a recent PNAS paper by members of the same research team, which also tied ancient sterol signatures to early sponges.<\/p>\n
The implications of the Vilesida discovery reach beyond evolutionary timelines. Sterols of the type produced by the new sponge order have already drawn attention for their pharmaceutical potential, with past studies highlighting antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiviral properties.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow that we\u2019ve named these sponges and mapped their habitats, chemists and pharmacists can more readily pursue these compounds,\u201d C\u00e1rdenas notes. \u201cVilesida may prove as medically valuable as it is evolutionarily significant.\u201d<\/p>\n
As researchers continue to unravel the molecular and ecological roles of the new order, Vilesida stands poised to redefine not only sponge biology, but perhaps the very origins of animal life in Earth\u2019s oceans.<\/p>\n