Abstract
This paper discusses recent evidence suggesting that genetic information from one species occasionally transfers to another remotely related species. Besides addressing the issue of whether or not the molecular data are consistent with a wide-spread influence of horizontal gene transfer, the paper shows that horizontal gene flow would not necessarily preclude a linear molecular clock or change the rate of molecular evolution (assuming the neutral allele theory). A pervasive influence of horizontal gene transfer is more than just consistent with the data of molecular evolution, it also provides a unique explanation for a number of possibly conflicting phylogenies and contradictory clocks. This phenomenon might explain why some protein clocks are linear while the superoxide dismutase clock is not, how the molecular data on the phylogeny of apes and Australian song birds are not necessarily in conflict with those based on morphology, and, finally, why the mycoplasmas have an accelerated molecular clock.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 16-23 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Molecular Evolution |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1987 |
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Keywords
- Apes
- Bacteria
- Coadaptation
- Cytochromes
- Globin genes
- Pseudogenes
- Relative rate test
- Songbirds
- Viral host range
- Viruses
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics(clinical)
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
Cite this
Molecular clocks and evolutionary relationships : Possible distortions due to horizontal gene flow. / Syvanen, Michael.
In: Journal of Molecular Evolution, Vol. 26, No. 1-2, 11.1987, p. 16-23.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular clocks and evolutionary relationships
T2 - Possible distortions due to horizontal gene flow
AU - Syvanen, Michael
PY - 1987/11
Y1 - 1987/11
N2 - This paper discusses recent evidence suggesting that genetic information from one species occasionally transfers to another remotely related species. Besides addressing the issue of whether or not the molecular data are consistent with a wide-spread influence of horizontal gene transfer, the paper shows that horizontal gene flow would not necessarily preclude a linear molecular clock or change the rate of molecular evolution (assuming the neutral allele theory). A pervasive influence of horizontal gene transfer is more than just consistent with the data of molecular evolution, it also provides a unique explanation for a number of possibly conflicting phylogenies and contradictory clocks. This phenomenon might explain why some protein clocks are linear while the superoxide dismutase clock is not, how the molecular data on the phylogeny of apes and Australian song birds are not necessarily in conflict with those based on morphology, and, finally, why the mycoplasmas have an accelerated molecular clock.
AB - This paper discusses recent evidence suggesting that genetic information from one species occasionally transfers to another remotely related species. Besides addressing the issue of whether or not the molecular data are consistent with a wide-spread influence of horizontal gene transfer, the paper shows that horizontal gene flow would not necessarily preclude a linear molecular clock or change the rate of molecular evolution (assuming the neutral allele theory). A pervasive influence of horizontal gene transfer is more than just consistent with the data of molecular evolution, it also provides a unique explanation for a number of possibly conflicting phylogenies and contradictory clocks. This phenomenon might explain why some protein clocks are linear while the superoxide dismutase clock is not, how the molecular data on the phylogeny of apes and Australian song birds are not necessarily in conflict with those based on morphology, and, finally, why the mycoplasmas have an accelerated molecular clock.
KW - Apes
KW - Bacteria
KW - Coadaptation
KW - Cytochromes
KW - Globin genes
KW - Pseudogenes
KW - Relative rate test
KW - Songbirds
KW - Viral host range
KW - Viruses
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0023493849&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0023493849&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF02111278
DO - 10.1007/BF02111278
M3 - Article
C2 - 3125334
AN - SCOPUS:0023493849
VL - 26
SP - 16
EP - 23
JO - Journal of Molecular Evolution
JF - Journal of Molecular Evolution
SN - 0022-2844
IS - 1-2
ER -