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When clocks (and communities) collide: Estimating divergence time from molecules and the fossil record

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

Christopher A. Brochu ,
Colin D. Sumrall  and
Jessica M. Theodor
Christopher A. Brochu
Affiliation:
1Department of Geoscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242
Colin D. Sumrall
Affiliation:
2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996
Jessica M. Theodor
Affiliation:
3Department of Geology, Illinois State Museum, Springfield 62703
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Extract

Traditionally, deep time was the domain of paleontology. Origination time could be assessed only through reference to first appearance data in the rock record. This changed almost from the beginnings of modern molecular biology, when it was realized that molecules could be used to calculate divergence times between living species. Early studies relied on immunological distance information, and the underlying rationale was simple: because evolution involves changes to the genetic code, and because these changes accumulate over time, we should expect the number of accumulated changes (the molecular distance) between living taxa to increase as their time of divergence becomes older (Zuckerkandl and Pauling, 1962). By inferring a rate of evolution of the genetic code, we can place absolute time estimates on divergence points.

Type
Selected Papers from the Sixth North American Paleontological Convention
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 78 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 1 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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