Explore the fascinating world of choanoflagellates and their role in understanding animal origins in this comprehensive lecture. Delve into mechanistic insights from model organisms, the reconstruction of animal origins, and the development of choanoflagellates as a new model organism. Discover the dynamic life history of S. rosetta, including the influence of bacteria on key life history transitions. Examine the intriguing process of epithelial tissue bending in animal development and how light regulates cell geometry and behavior. Gain insights into apical cell constriction predating animal origins and the organismal biology of the first animals. Participate in a Q&A session on Slack to further engage with the topic and expand your knowledge of evolutionary biology and morphogenesis.