Branchiostoma lanceolatum (European lancelet) genome, klBraLanc5

Branchiostoma lanceolatum, the European or Mediterranean amphioxus (also known as lancelet), is a marine invertebrate filter feeder belonging to the subphylum Cephalochordata, which, along with tunicates and vertebrates, forms the phylum Chordata. Cephalochordata is divided into three genera (Asymmetron, Epigonichthys, and Branchiostoma) encompassing at least 35 species. Currently considered the most basal group within the chordate lineage, the amphioxus Branchiostoma lanceolatum shares several key characteristics with vertebrates. This sample of a female was collected by Simona Candiani and Matteo Bozzo, and coordinated by Simona to generate a high-quality reference genome for the Vertebrate Genomes Project (VGP). Sequencing and genome assembly were conducted at the Vertebrate Genomes Lab (VGL) at the Rockefeller University, led by Erich D. Jarvis.