Geological calibration of molecular clocks

[John Grehan]

I have not read the entire article although I have seen the abstract.
Their concluding statement as cited by Robert is quite telling. If there
is incongruence between two historical narratives (in this case the
geological story and the molecular clock story) and the authors cannot
make up their mind between them what value is the study? 

John

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Taxacom Discussion List [mailto:TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU] On
> Behalf Of Robert Mesibov
> Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 5:20 AM
> To: TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU
> Subject: [TAXACOM] Geological calibration of molecular clocks
> 
> TAXACOMers who don't share panbiogeographers' caution about Caribbean
> evolution
> and biogeography might like to read:
> 
> Thorpe, R.S., Leadbeater, D.L. & Pook, C.E. 2005. Molecular clocks and
> geological dates: cytochrome b of Anolis extremus substantially
> contradicts
> dating of Barbados emergence. Molecular Ecology 17(4).
> 
> This is a particularly nice case because anole clocking works "as
> expected"
> elsewhere in the Caribbean. The authors say: "The question of whether
> Barbados emerged much earlier than is currently thought, or whether
the
> molecular clock assumptions are inappropriate, remains open."
> ---
> Dr Robert Mesibov
> Honorary Research Associate, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
> and School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
> Home contact: PO Box 101, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia 7316
> (03) 6437 1195
> 
> Tasmanian Multipedes
> http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/zoology/multipedes/mulintro.html
> Spatial data basics for Tasmania
> http://www.geog.utas.edu.au/censis/locations/index.html
> ---