Crown Eukaryotes - Another myth

[Laura <A. at <LKatz at SCIENCE.SMITH.EDU>.bitnet>]

There is no evidence that animals and fungi, or plants for that
matter, are in a 'crown'

The 'crown eukaryotes' myth emerged from the structure of early
molecular trees where long branch taxa 'fell' to the bottom.

In multigene and rate-corrected single gene analyses, there is no
compelling evidence for a crown.

Instead, there is a tremendous diversity of eukaryotic clades (some
60-200, depending on who you ask), of which plants, animals and fungi
are only three.




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Laura A. Katz, Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063
Phone: 413-585-3825
Fax: 413-585-3786
http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/lkatz/
http://www.eutree.org
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