[Taxacom] Propaganda (was: Molecules vs. Morphology)

[Stephen Thorpe]

I think there is something in what John says - specifically there is  
"propaganda" associated with molecular methods, but realistically it  
is the UNCRITICAL acceptance of the molecular over morphological that  
leads to problems. The Scydmaenidae example is relevant here. To argue  
for "total evidence" sounds all well and good, but what if half of it  
points one way, and half of it the other? Sometimes it seems like  
every new method gives a different result! Another good example  
involves the enigmatic Xenoturbella. Are people familiar with the  
story? An uncritical molecular analysis revealed that it was a bivalve  
mollusc without a shell! Then it was discovered:

Bourlat, S.J.; Nielsen, C.; Lockyer, A.E.; Littlewood, D.T.J.;  
Telford, M.J. 2003: Xenoturbella is a deuterostome that eats molluscs.  
Nature, 424: 925-928.

Doh!

Stephen



Quoting Kenneth Kinman <kennethkinman at webtv.net>:

> John,
>       One of these days, all these people who have tried to
> scientifically reason with you might actually make a break-through.
> Except for you, almost everyone agrees that an argument based solely on
> morphology, and just opportunistically lashing out at anything molecular
> to the contrary, is most likely an exercise in futility.
>       Your accusations of "propoganda" aren't really taken seriously.
> Unless whole genome analysis clearly shows that you are correct (which I
> obviously doubt), you are sorely in need of a molecular specialist to
> back you up.  Arguing from a morphological perspective alone, without
> molecular confirmation, is getting you nowhere.
>         -------- Ken Kinman
>
>
>
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