The enigmatic Placozoa part 2: Exploring evolutionary controversies and promising questions on earth and in space

The placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens has been bridging gaps between research disciplines like no other animal. As outlined in part 1, placozoans have been subject of hot evolutionary debates and placozoans have challenged some fundamental evolutionary concepts. Here in part 2 we discuss the exceptional genetics of the phylum Placozoa and point out some challenging model system applications for the best known species, Trichoplax adhaerens. Placozoans are a versatile model system in many areas of basic and applied research. The genetics of placozoans are well known and placozoans harbor a lot of potential for adapting latest molecular techniques for in vivo manipulation. Not surprising, placozoans have recently been introduced as a new model system also for gravitational biology and cancer research.