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Use of phylogenetic analysis to distinguish adaptation from exaptation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2003

Daniel G. Blackburn
Daniel G. Blackburn
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Life Sciences Center, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06106 [email protected] http://shakti.trincoll.edu/~blackbur/
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Abstract

One important difference between adaptive and nonadaptive explanations can be found in the evolutionary sequence of structural and functional modifications. Phylogenetic analysis (cladistics) provides a powerful methodology for distinguishing exaptation from adaptation, by indicating whether character traits have predated, accompanied, or followed evolution of particular functions. Such analysis yields falsifiable hypotheses that can help to distinguish causal relationships from mere correlation.

Type
Brief Report
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , August 2002 , pp. 507 - 508
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

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