Did Fish Evolve into Birds and Mammals?
Did Fish Evolve into Birds and Mammals?

Evolutionists commonly assume that fish evolved into amphibians, then
to reptiles, then to birds and mammals. This scenario is, however,
contradicted by the following article, which asserts that fish
developed into a different line than birds and mammals:
TITLE: The mitochondrial DNA molecule of the hagfish (Myxine
glutinosa) and vertebrate phylogeny.
AUTHOR: Rasmussen, Ann-Sofie; Janke, Axel; Arnason, Ulfur.
AUTHOR AFFIL: Div. Evolutionary Molecular Systematics, Dep. Genetics,
Univ. Lund, Solvegatan 29, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
SOURCE TITLE: Journal of Molecular Evolution 46, no. 4 (April,
1998): 382-388.
ABSTRACT: The vertebrates are traditionally classified into two
distinct groups, Agnatha (jawless vertebrates) and
Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates). Extant agnathans are
represented by hagfishes (Myxiniformes) and lampreys
(Petromyzontiformes), frequently -grouped together within the
Cyclostomata. Whereas the recognition of the Gnathostomata as
a clade is commonly acknowledged, a consensus has not been
reached regarding whether or not Cyclostomata represents a
clade. In the present study we have used newly established
sequences of the protein-coding genes of the mitochondrial
DNA molecule of the hagfish to explore agnathan and
gnathostome relationships. The phylogenetic analysis of
Pisces, using echinoderms as outgroup, placed the hagfish as
a sister group of Vertebrata sensu stricto, i.e., the lamprey
and the gnathostomes. The phylogenetic analysis of the
Gnathostomata identified a basal divergence between
gnathostome fishes and a branch leading to birds and mammals,
i.e., between "Anamnia" and Amniota. The lungfish has a
basal position among gnathostome fishes with the teleosts as
the most recently evolving lineage. The findings portray a
hitherto unrecognized polarity in the evolution of bony
fishes. The presently established relationships are
incompatible with previous molecular studies.
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