Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.The structures that arise from convergent evolution are called analogous structures. They are similar in function even if they are dissimilar in structure. Further, structures can be analogous while also...

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.

Eukaryotic Evolution

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...

Synteny and Evolution

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...

Phylogeny

Phylogeny

Phylogeny is concerned with the evolutionary diversification of organisms or groups of organisms. A group of organisms with a name is called a taxon (singular). Taxa (plural) can span different levels of the evolutionary hierarchy. For instance, the group containing all birds is a taxon (comprising the class Aves), and the group of all species of daisies (the genus Bellis) is a taxon. Phylogenies can likewise include just one genus (i.e., depict species relationships) or span an entire...

What is Evolutionary History?

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.Phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary relationships among these organisms. Scientists infer organisms’ common ancestry by evaluating shared morphological and genetic characteristics. Together, the fossil...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Genomics as a time capsule: insights from Oreobates chiquitanus type specimens.

BMC genomics·2026

Same author

The genome of the relict earless monitor lizard, Lanthanotus borneensis, and the Toxicofera hypothesis.

BMC biology·2026

Same author

<i>De Novo</i> Genome Assembly of the Myanmar Puddle Frog, <i>Phrynoglossus myanhessei</i> (Anura: Dicroglossidae).

Journal of genomics·2026

Same author

Population-genomics reveals a dual ancestry of grizzly bears.

iScience·2025

Same author

Chromosome-level genome of the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) and its genome-wide population structure across Western Europe.

BMC biology·2025

Same author

Type Genomics: A Framework for Integrating Genomic Data into Biodiversity and Taxonomic Research.

Systematic biology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

Mammalian evolution may not be strictly bifurcating.

Björn M Hallström¹, Axel Janke

¹Department of Cell and Organism Biology, Division of Evolutionary Molecular Systematics, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden.

Molecular Biology and Evolution

|July 2, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Phylogenetic analysis of 31 placental mammals reveals most evolutionary relationships, but short divergence times complicate resolution. Genomic data is no longer a limiting factor for understanding mammalian evolution.

More Related Videos

In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples

In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples

Published on: August 31, 2018

Lineage Tracing and Clonal Analysis in Developing Cerebral Cortex Using Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM)

Lineage Tracing and Clonal Analysis in Developing Cerebral Cortex Using Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM)

Published on: May 8, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples

In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples

Published on: August 31, 2018

Lineage Tracing and Clonal Analysis in Developing Cerebral Cortex Using Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM)

Lineage Tracing and Clonal Analysis in Developing Cerebral Cortex Using Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM)

Published on: May 8, 2020

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Genomics
Mammalian paleontology

Background:

Massive genomic sequence data is available for analyzing evolutionary relationships among placental mammals.
High-throughput sequencing has reduced stochastic error in phylogenetic analyses, theoretically enabling resolution of controversial branches in the mammalian tree.

Purpose of the Study:

To reconstruct the evolution of 31 placental mammals using a large genomic dataset.
To identify and address challenges in resolving phylogenetic relationships, particularly those with short divergence times.

Main Methods:

Analysis of a 2,863,797 nucleotide-long alignment comprising 3,364 genes from 31 placental mammals.
Computer simulations to determine data requirements for resolving short phylogenetic branches.
Application of split network methods to visualize data conflict and evolutionary history.

Main Results:

Most placental mammalian relationships were resolved, with a consensus of their evolution emerging.
Certain branches, characterized by divergence times of 1-4 million years, remain difficult to resolve.
Simulations suggest approximately 12,500 amino acid sites could resolve branches as old as 90 million years.
Rapid radiations, incomplete lineage sorting, and introgression contribute to conflicting phylogenetic signals.

Conclusions:

Genomic sequence data is no longer a limiting factor for resolving placental mammal relationships.
Early placental mammal radiation likely coincided with climate warming and continental fragmentation.
Split network methods offer superior visualization of data conflict and evolutionary history compared to bifurcating trees.
A Laurasian origin for placental mammals is the most parsimonious explanation, considering geological and fossil evidence.