Core Findings - The discovery of two fossilized nematode fungi, ancient ant nematode fungus and ancient fly nematode fungus, in 100 million-year-old amber from Myanmar provides significant evidence for the co-evolution of fungi and insects [1][5] - The origin of nematode fungi has been pushed back by approximately 30 million years, now estimated to have originated around 130 million years ago during the early Cretaceous period [7][8] Group 1: Research Details - The research team, led by the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, found that nematode fungi are a type of parasitic fungus, with the well-known Chinese medicinal material "Cordyceps" being a member of this family [3] - The two newly discovered fossils exhibit well-preserved morphological structures that can be directly compared to modern species, aiding in understanding their evolutionary history [5] Group 2: Methodology and Analysis - High-resolution analysis methods, including micro-CT, were employed to study the fossils, revealing that the ancient ant nematode fungus parasitized a primitive ant pupa, while the ancient fly nematode fungus was found on a Cretaceous fly [5][7] - The research involved collecting and analyzing genetic data from 120 modern nematode fungi to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships within the group, using the new fossils as calibration points [7]