biostudies-literatureUnknown15Condamine FL<h4>Background</h4>Bayesian relaxed-clock dating has significantly influenced our understanding of the timeline of biotic evolution. This approach requires the use of priors on the branching process, yet little is known about their impact on divergence time estimates. We investigated the effect of branching priors using the iconic cycads. We conducted phylogenetic estimations for 237 cycad species using three genes and two calibration strategies incorporating up to six fossil constraints to (i) test the impact of two different branching process priors on age estimates, (ii) assess which branching prior better fits the data, (iii) investigate branching prior impacts on diversification analyses, and (iv) provide insights into the diversification history of cycads.<h4>Results</h4>Using Bayes BMC evolutionary biology65https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4449600biostudies-literatureOrigin and diversification of living cycads: a cautionary tale on the impact of the branching process prior in Bayesian molecular dating.PMC4449600Condamine FLNagalingum NSMarshall CRMorlon HfalseOrigin and diversification of living cycads: a cautionary tale on the impact of the branching process prior in Bayesian molecular dating.<h4>Background</h4>Bayesian relaxed-clock dating has significantly influenced our understanding of the timeline of biotic evolution. This approach requires the use of priors on the branching process, yet little is known about their impact on divergence time estimates. We investigated the effect of branching priors using the iconic cycads. We conducted phylogenetic estimations for 237 cycad species using three genes and two calibration strategies incorporating up to six fossil constraints to (i) test the impact of two different branching process priors on age estimates, (ii) assess which branching prior better fits the data, (iii) investigate branching prior impacts on diversification analyses, and (iv) provide insights into the diversification history of cycads.<h4>Results</h4>Using Bayes 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Apr2026-06-08T06:14:56.574Z2025-05-31T22:36:38.667ZS-EPMC44496002588442310.1186/s12862-015-0347-8