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Calibrating the avian molecular clock.

J T Weir1, D Schluter

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. jtweir@uchicago.edu

Molecular Ecology
|April 22, 2008
PubMed
Summary
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This study validates avian molecular clock rate constancy using fossil data. The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene showed a consistent evolutionary rate over 12 million years across diverse bird lineages.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Evolution
  • Phylogenetics

Background:

  • Molecular clocks are crucial for dating evolutionary events, but their rate constancy across time and taxa is debated.
  • Previous assumptions of molecular clock uniformity lack robust empirical support, particularly in avian lineages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To rigorously test the rate constancy of molecular clocks in birds using a comprehensive set of calibration points.
  • To identify and quantify variations in molecular evolutionary rates across avian phylogenetic lineages.

Main Methods:

  • Generated 90 candidate avian molecular clock calibrations from fossil records and biogeographical events.
  • Employed cross-validation techniques to identify and exclude 16 inconsistent calibration points.
  • Analyzed the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome b, for rate constancy using the remaining 74 validated calibrations.

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Main Results:

  • Demonstrated approximately clock-like molecular evolution over a 12-million-year period for avian cytochrome b.
  • Established a molecular evolutionary rate of approximately 2.1% per million years across 12 taxonomic orders.
  • Identified minor but significant rate variations among lineages, not attributable to generation time, body size, or latitude.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides strong evidence for the approximate rate constancy of avian molecular clocks over extended timescales.
  • Findings challenge previous explanations for rate variation, suggesting novel factors may influence molecular evolution in birds.