[Taxacom] DNA homologies

[John Grehan]

> From: Ethan Bright [mailto:ethanbr at umich.edu]
> > The current text is as follows:... In overall similarity crocodiles
are
> > morphologically most similar to other reptiles while the
distribution of
> > uniquely shared features suggests they are most closely related to
birds
> > (ref..).
> >
> Many will disagree with this statement. Bone structure and arrangement
> as well as behavioral evidence (inheritable traits) indicate a closer
> affinity between birds and crocodiles.

I thought that was what I said. 

> Many studies from insect sequencing are often conflicting with
> morphological studies because either the genomes are insufficiently
> understood, and parsing out what how sequences reflect history. 

Great.


Although
> molecular work has closely corroborated morphological work between
> Lepidoptera and Trichoptera, and evolutionary relationships within
> Lepidoptera, they are conflicting within Trichoptera. 

Or is it that the morphological work has corroborated the molecular
work?

Genetic sequencing in of itself can be
> misleading because there are many intermediate steps between how DNA
is
> transcribed into RNA, and then into the necessary cellular
development,
> which are not just structures but also hormones, antibodies, nervous
> system synapses, behavior, and environmental tolerances. In other
words,
> it's also a problem hierarchy. Paleontologists are keenly aware of
this.
> Just my thoughts. Whatever your results, it should muck up the mud and
> create an interesting debate.

And that's all I am interested in - recognizing that there is something
to debate rather than ignore (ignore in human evolution studies that
is).

Thanks for the feedback.

John