[Taxacom] morphology and molecules again

[John Grehan]

I acknowledge the assertions, but whether they prove to be so remains to
be seen.

John Grehan
-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
[mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Kenneth Kinman
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 9:15 PM
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: [Taxacom] morphology and molecules again

John Grehan wrote:
But if there is convergence in morphology then there will be convergence
in molecules. 
----------------------------------------------------
Hi John,
     Not necessarily so.  Different sets of mutations can converge on
the same morphology independently.  And then there are all the genes
that have nothing to do with the convergent morphology at all.  
      Anyway, the important point is that morphological and molecular
data are both important sources of information, and that they should
eventually become largely congruent (once the wheat is separated from
all the chaff).  The hard part is winnowing out all that chaff (both
morphological and molecular), and studying both types of data will get
you there quicker than just one approach alone.  
         ----------Ken Kinman



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