Bromham L, Rambaut A, Fortey R, Cooper A, Penny D
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Oct 13;95(21):12386-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.21.12386.
Molecular studies have the potential to shed light on the origin of the animal phyla by providing independent estimates of the divergence times, but have been criticized for failing to account adequately for variation in rate of evolution. A method of dating divergence times from molecular data addresses the criticisms of earlier studies and provides more realistic, but wider, confidence intervals. The data are not compatible with the Cambrian explosion hypothesis as an explanation for the origin of metazoan phyla, and provide additional support for an extended period of Precambrian metazoan diversification.
分子研究有潜力通过提供分歧时间的独立估计来阐明动物门的起源,但因未能充分考虑进化速率的变化而受到批评。一种从分子数据确定分歧时间的方法回应了早期研究的批评,并提供了更现实但范围更广的置信区间。这些数据与寒武纪大爆发假说不相符,无法作为后生动物门起源的解释,而是为前寒武纪后生动物多样化的延长时期提供了额外支持。