The publication of the mouse and human genomes enables comparative genomics to elucidate gene structure and function within these organisms, classed together within the Metazoa. To find the same functional and evolutionary information for animals in general, it is necessary to expand the comparison beyond the Metazoan lineage. In the July 18
King et al. analyzed more than 5000 ESTs from two choanoflagellate species and determined the phylogenetic distribution of the proteins or domains within eukaryotes, bacteria, archaea, and viruses. They then looked within the eukaryotes for distribution among non-animals...