Abstract
Calibrating and constraining molecular clocks
Pp. 35-86. In The timetree of Life, S. B. Hedges & S. Kumar (eds), OUP, 2009
In dating phylogenetic trees, it is important to work to the strengths of paleontology and molecular phylogeny estimation. Minimum constraints on calibrations (i.e., the oldest fossils in a crown clade) may be calculated with some precision and may be treated as hard bounds, while maximum constraints are soft bounds that may be represented most honestly by probability distributions that reflect the distribution of fossiliferous rocks around the time in question, but allow a small probability of truly ancient dates as well. We present detailed documentation of 63 key calibration dates, with thorough evidence and error expressions, for a wide range of organisms.
| Translated title of the contribution | Calibrating and constraining molecular clocks |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Title of host publication | The timetree of Life |
| Editors | Hedges , S. B., S Kumar |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Pages | 35 - 86 |
| Number of pages | 41 |
| ISBN (Print) | 0199535035 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |