Organisms that are classified in the kingdom Fungi and given the class name Myxomycetes, following the rules of botanical nomenclature; or classified in the kingdom Protista at various taxonomic ranks, as class Mycetozoa, following the rules of zoological nomenclature. Evolutionary origins are controversial, but based on DNA sequencing techniques, many now believe that the Myxomycetes diverge early on in the tree of life in the region where other protists are found.