[Taxacom] Morphology vs Molecular

[John Grehan]

Not sure I understand this. If I am correct, humans and orangutans are
sister taxa and share a most recent common ancestor. It is not a case of
reactivation, but retention of features shared by a unique common
ancestor.

 

John Grehan

 

> bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Zander

> Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:10 PM

 

 

> Right now I repeat my take on this, Grehan is right for wrong reasons.

> Molecular history shared by of a vast majority of gene sequences is

> correct but the traits shared by man and orang were salted away

> epigenetically in the ancestors of chimp and gorilla. Is there
evidence

> for this? There is a lot of cases in the literature that major traits
and

> trait complexes are conserved for hundreds of thousands of years, then

> apparently reactivated. I can give examples if anyone wants to

> investigate. Morphology is the interface with selection, and we cannot

> ignore it.