Molecular approaches to systematics and phylogeny reconstruction

Abstract

Conceptual and technical advances in molecular biology have made the acquistion of data relevant to systematics and phylogenetic reconstruction much easier to gather. The advantages of molecular data for understanding historical relationships of taxa are discussed. Other specific issues raised are the neutral theory of molecular evolution and molecular clocks. Neither concept is a necessary prerequisite for using molecular data to deduce phylogenetic relationships. Finally it is pointed out that, while molecular data are very powerful in deducing phytogenies, these phytogenies become evolutionarily interesting only when morphology, physiology, behavior etc, are analyzed in the context of the deduced historical relationships. © 1991 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.