Animal Evolution and the Molecular Signature of Radiations Compressed in Time

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1116759
• Publication Date: 2005-12-22T21:57:34Z
• Authors: Antonis Rokas; Dirk Krüger; Sean B. Carroll
• Keywords: Molecular clock

The phylogenetic relationships among most metazoan phyla remain uncertain. We obtained large numbers of gene sequences from metazoans, including key understudied taxa. Despite the amount data and breadth taxa analyzed, remained unresolved. In contrast, same genes robustly resolved within a major clade Fungi approximately age as Metazoa. differences in resolution two kingdoms suggest that early history metazoans was radiation compressed time, finding is agreement with paleontological inferences. Furthermore, simulation analyses well studies other radiations deep time indicate that, given adequate sequence data, lack trees signature closely spaced series cladogenetic events.