Molecular Data are Transforming Hypotheses on the Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

Authors

Yonas I. Tekle, Smith College in Northampton
Laura Wegener Parfrey, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Laura A. Katz, Smith CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2009

Publication Title

BioScience

Abstract

The explosion of molecular data has transformed hypotheses on both the origin of eukaryotes and the structure of the eukaryotic tree of life. Early ideas about the evolution of eukaryotes arose through analyses of morphology by light microscopy and, later, electron microscopy. Though such studies have proven powerful at resolving more recent events, theories on origins and diversification of eukaryotic life have been substantially revised in light of analyses of molecular data including gene and, increasingly, whole-genome sequences. By combining these approaches, progress has been made in elucidating the origin and diversification of eukaryotes. Yet many aspects of the evolution of eukaryotic life remain to be illuminated.

Keywords

Chimeric genome, Endosymbiosis, Eukaryotic supergroups, Lateral gene transfer, Molecular systematics

Volume

59

Issue

6

First Page

471

Last Page

481

DOI

10.1525/bio.2009.59.6.5

ISSN

00063568

Comments

Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.

Recommended Citation

Tekle, Yonas I.; Parfrey, Laura Wegener; and Katz, Laura A., "Molecular Data are Transforming Hypotheses on the Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes" (2009). Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/bio_facpubs/130