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Molecular clocks and the incompleteness of the fossil record

Molecular clocks and the incompleteness of the fossil record Molecular clocks can be evaluated by comparing absolute rates of evolution and by performing relative-rate tests. Typically, calculations of absolute rates are based on earliest observed occurrences in the fossil record. Relative-rate tests, on the other hand, merely require an unambiguous outgroup. A major disadvantage of relative-rate tests is their insensitivity to concomitant and equal rate changes in all lineages. Apparent differences in absolute rates, in turn, may be artifacts that are attributable to an incomplete fossil record. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Molecular Evolution Springer Journals

Molecular clocks and the incompleteness of the fossil record

Journal of Molecular Evolution , Volume 41 (5) – Jul 5, 2004

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References (51)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 by Springer-Verlag New York Inc
Subject
Life Sciences; Evolutionary Biology; Microbiology; Plant Sciences; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Cell Biology
ISSN
0022-2844
eISSN
1432-1432
DOI
10.1007/BF00175810
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Molecular clocks can be evaluated by comparing absolute rates of evolution and by performing relative-rate tests. Typically, calculations of absolute rates are based on earliest observed occurrences in the fossil record. Relative-rate tests, on the other hand, merely require an unambiguous outgroup. A major disadvantage of relative-rate tests is their insensitivity to concomitant and equal rate changes in all lineages. Apparent differences in absolute rates, in turn, may be artifacts that are attributable to an incomplete fossil record.

Journal

Journal of Molecular EvolutionSpringer Journals

Published: Jul 5, 2004

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