@macroevolut I do not understand why some bash one name for a particular reason but claim another name with the same short comings (and more give the history of the term) is perfectly acceptable to them. There is a lack of consistent logic
@macroevolut Lophotrochozoa is a node based name, Apomorphy based names are highly problematic. The alternative, Spiralia, is very problematic - apomophorphy based with many animal lacking spiral cleavage - and originally included arthropods.
@macroevolut @JordiPaps@Sansom_Rob I have yet to hear a valid scientific reason for not liking Lophotrochozoa. Seem complainers just do not like the sound of it. Not a good reason nor a scientific reason
@macroevolut @JordiPaps@Sansom_Rob Lophotrochozoa is a node-based name explicitly chosen because synapomorphy-based names are problematic. Arguments about synapomorphy-based names being problematic settled >20 yr ago!!!! Spiralia has numerous definitions, and is not a good synapo for any definition of Spiralia!
My first ever @NSF grants have been awarded! 1. CAREER award to study variation in sex-differential gene expression and 2. IOS grant with @Ken_Halanych and Beth Schwartz on comparative functional genomics of innate immunity. I cannot overstate how excited (and grateful) I am :)