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defining phylogenetic relationships: DNA analysis vs morphological analysis.

  • 24-09-2011 6:43pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,564 ✭✭✭✭


    From looking at morphological similarities we previously assigned the whale to the order cetacea but from looking at dna and molecular analysis we can now say that the hippopotamus might be the whale's closest living relative. The hippo and other even toed ungulates (cattle, pigs, sheep ect) belong to the order artiodactyla and the whale belongs to the order cetacea but there is talk of merging the two orders into a new order, Cetartiodactyla!

    Will DNA based phylogenetic trees completely get rid of phylogenetic trees based on morphology and what other animals will we discover that are or are not closely related to to DNA analysis?


Comments

  • Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,394 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    Does this include toothed whales and balean whales or one or the other??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,720 ✭✭✭Sid_Justice


    Morphological based phylogenetic trees can offer insights genetic phylogenetic trees cannot and vice-versa.

    From a eco-evolutionary point of view we're interested in how phenotypes change in response to the environments, they tell us a great story. If we were to look at poodles and wolves we may not be overwhelmed by genetic differences but looking at changes in phenotype we see there are many things going on.

    From a genetic-evolutionary point of view we don't want to be too biased / fooled by superficial morphological similarities nor over look close relationships (cetacean and artiodactyls ) due to gross morphological dissimilarity.

    there's been decades of work using morpho trees, maybe their use is less relevant because all the work has already been done. as genetic ones are so new and as analysis becomes so much cheaper and faster (e.g. in china) there is more scope to bring new information to light.

    Genetics is not the panacea for explaining and understanding evolution imo.

    It's been a while since I've looked at anything like this, so my terminology is probably way off. I interviewed for a phylogenetics phd once, no wonder i didn't get it :o:o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,564 ✭✭✭✭steddyeddy


    Mickeroo wrote: »
    Does this include toothed whales and balean whales or one or the other??

    Both baleen whales and toothed whales share a common ancestor and share and order (Odontceti, the toothed whales and Mysticeti, the baleen whales are both sub orders of cetacea) so as far as I know it would since the order cetacea in its entirety are being merged with the order artiodactyla.


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