[Taxacom] FW: DNA only descriptions

[Richard Zander]

Higher resolution? Molecular phylogenies are at best trees of isolation events associated with the individual specimens analyzed. When individual specimens analyzed appear to represent the same taxon that pops up in different parts of a cladogram, you rename the offending specimen as a different taxon. This is resolution? This is theory that is bent to the assumption. 
 
R.
 
_______________________
Richard H. Zander
Missouri Botanical Garden
PO Box 299
St. Louis, MO 63166 U.S.A.
richard.zander at mobot.org
 

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From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu on behalf of Kim van der Linde
Sent: Tue 8/17/2010 10:11 PM
To: TAXACOM at MAILMAN.NHM.KU.EDU
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] FW: DNA only descriptions



I think any absolutism won't work. But my experience is that molecular
phylogenies often have a substantially higher degree of resolution than
cladistic phylogenies. And that is logical, because often, it is based
on a lot more data than cladistic studies. So, I think we should use all
possible sources and weigh them appropriately on a case by case basis.