BIS 2C Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Molecular Phylogenetics, Leptosiphon, Molecular Clock
17 Jan 2018
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Mitochrondiral dna"s rate of mutation is well established. Rate of mutation/molecular clocks can be used to determine when species diverged from a common ancestor. Humans and chimpanzees diverged about 5-7 million years ago (this is when the two species last shared a common ancestor) Study the tempo and mode of evolution. How, and when, and at what rate characters change. Using phylogenetic criteria to establish conservation priorities. They are under threat due to pollution, habitat destruction and alien species. Using phylogeny, we can determine how we should target conservation. Targeting both the most ancient madagascar clade and the east african clade, we capture a deeper history which may help to preserve all variation we see among the cichlids. Phylogenies can provide useful information to conservation biologists about how to focus conservation efforts. Determining where an event occurs on a phylogenetic tree: Using characters (traits) to build a tree often with the help of dna.
