Do Micrognathozoa have micro-genomes?

Abstract

Based on the extremely small sizes of their jaw components, I predict that members of the Micrognathozoa will have some of the smallest nuclear genomes of any metazoans or, possibly, even of any free-living (non-parasitic) eukaryotes. Micrognathozoan jaws may also be enervated by anucleate neurons. Consistent with the prediction of small genomes, micrognathozoan jaw parts have remarkably small cell nuclei. Identical arguments may apply to other members of the Gnathifera, namely Rotifera and Gnathostomulida.© 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 112, 640-644.