Editing Tunicate (section)

===Hybridization studies===

A multi-taxon [[Molecular phylogenetics|molecular study]] in 2010 proposed that sea squirts are descended from a hybrid between a chordate and a [[protostome]] ancestor (before the divergence of [[panarthropod]]s and [[nematode]]s). This study was based on a quartet partitioning approach designed to reveal [[horizontal gene transfer]] events among metazoan phyla.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Syvanen, M. |author2=Ducore, J. |year=2010 |title=Whole genome comparisons reveals a possible chimeric origin for a major metazoan assemblage |journal=Journal of Biological Systems |volume=18 |pages=261–275 |doi=10.1142/S0218339010003408 |issue=2 }}</ref>