Growing up with dinosaurs: molecular dates and the mammalian radiation

Dates of divergence derived from molecular data have been used to place the beginning of the radiation of modern mammalian orders in the Cretaceous, long before the final extinction of the dinosaurs. These molecular dates have been used to challenge the idea that the ordinal diversification of mamma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) 1999-03, Vol.14 (3), p.113-118
Main Authors: Bromham, Lindell, Phillips, Matthew J., Penny, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biological evolution
dinosaurs
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
fossil record
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
mammalian origins
mammalian radiation
molecular clock
molecular dating
Paleontology
phylogeny
Vertebrate paleontology
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Summary:Dates of divergence derived from molecular data have been used to place the beginning of the radiation of modern mammalian orders in the Cretaceous, long before the final extinction of the dinosaurs. These molecular dates have been used to challenge the idea that the ordinal diversification of mammals was triggered by the availability of ‘empty niches’ left vacant by the disappearance of the dinosaurs. However, the broad discrepancies between molecular date estimates from different studies warn that molecular dates should not be accepted uncritically. Consideration of the wide confidence intervals around molecular date estimates, and the potential for geographic bias in the fossil record, could lessen the discrepancy between molecular and palaeontological data but might still prompt a re-evaluation of the timing and causes of the mammalian radiation.
ISSN:0169-5347
1872-8383
DOI:10.1016/S0169-5347(98)01507-9