genetic vs morphological trace of phylogeny

[Ken Kinman]

Curtis Clark wrote:
     If substitution rates are much higher in one lineage than another, sister lineages may be genetically "less similar" than one or the other is to the outgroup (just as birds are "less similar" to lizards than crocodiles are).

And I respond:
      And thus it is perfectly acceptable (perhaps even preferable) that most of humanity regards birds as a separate class from reptiles.   :-)
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Curtis Clark wrote:
     I should mention also (and John to his credit has never accused me of this) that I do not discount the similarities among orangs, humans, and fossil hominids.  I suspect that they will turn out to be symplesiomorphies, but I haven't studied the specific issue well enough to have an informed position.

And I respond:
      I too suspect that they may be symplesiomorphies.  If so, then what are now regarded as chimp-gorilla symplesiomorphies may turn out to be synapomorphies of a true chimp-gorilla clade.  Too bad there isn't as much effort being expended on this third possibility.