Estimating Improved Partitioning Schemes for Ultraconserved Elements.

ABSTRACT: Ultraconserved (UCEs) are popular markers for phylogenomic studies. They are relatively simple to collect from distantly-related organisms, and contain sufficient information to infer relationships at almost all taxonomic levels. Most studies of UCEs use partitioning to account for variation in rates and patterns of molecular evolution among sites, for example by estimating an independent model of molecular evolution for each UCE. However, rates and patterns of molecular evolution vary substantially within as well as between UCEs, suggesting that there may be opportunities to improve how UCEs are partitioned for phylogenetic inference. We propose and evaluate new partitioning methods for phylogenomic studies of UCEs: Sliding-Window Site Characteristics (SWSC), and UCE Site Position (UCESP)

SUBMITTER: Tagliacollo VA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5995204 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature