There is no universal molecular clock for invertebrates, but rate variation does not scale with body size.

ABSTRACT: The existence of a universal molecular clock has been called into question by observations that substitution rates vary widely between lineages. However, increasing empirical evidence for the systematic effects of different life history traits on the rate of molecular evolution has raised hopes that rate variation may be predictable, potentially allowing the "correction" of the molecular clock. One such example is the body size trend observed in vertebrates; smaller species tend to have faster rates of molecular evolution. This effect has led to the proposal of general predictive models correcting for rate heterogeneity and has also been invoked to explain discrepancies between molecular and paleontological dates for explosive radiations in the fossil record. Yet, there have been no tests

SUBMITTER: Thomas JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1464347 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature