Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (109)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by van Tuinen, M.
Right arrow Articles by Hedges, S. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by van Tuinen, M.
Right arrow Articles by Hedges, S. B.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Molecular Biology and Evolution 18:206-213 (2001)
© 2001 Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution

ARTICLE

Calibration of Avian Molecular Clocks

Marcel van Tuinen and S. Blair Hedges

Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Evolutionary Genetics, and Astrobiology Research Center, Pennsylvania State University

Molecular clocks can be calibrated using fossils within the group under study (internal calibration) or outside of the group (external calibration). Both types of calibration have their advantages and disadvantages. An internal calibration may reduce extrapolation error but may not be from the best fossil record, raising the issue of nonindependence. An external calibration may be more independent but also may have a greater extrapolation error. Here, we used the advantages of both methods by applying a sequential calibration to avian molecular clocks. We estimated a basal divergence within birds, the split between fowl (Galliformes) and ducks (Anseriformes), to be 89.8 ± 6.97 MYA using an external calibration and 12 rate-constant nuclear genes. In turn, this time estimate was used as an internal calibration for three species-rich avian molecular data sets: mtDNA, DNA-DNA hybridization, and transferrin immunological distances. The resulting time estimates indicate that many major clades of modern birds had their origins within the Cretaceous. This supports earlier studies that identified large gaps in the avian fossil record and suggests that modern birds may have coexisted with other avian lineages for an extended period during the Cretaceous. The new time estimates are concordant with a continental breakup model for the origin of ratites.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
E. Axelsson and H. Ellegren
Quantification of Adaptive Evolution of Genes Expressed in Avian Brain and the Population Size Effect on the Efficacy of Selection
Mol. Biol. Evol., May 1, 2009; 26(5): 1073 - 1079.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
R. C. Pratt, G. C. Gibb, M. Morgan-Richards, M. J. Phillips, M. D. Hendy, and D. Penny
Toward Resolving Deep Neoaves Phylogeny: Data, Signal Enhancement, and Priors
Mol. Biol. Evol., February 1, 2009; 26(2): 313 - 326.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
K. Nam and H. Ellegren
The Chicken (Gallus gallus) Z Chromosome Contains at Least Three Nonlinear Evolutionary Strata
Genetics, October 1, 2008; 180(2): 1131 - 1136.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
T. F. Wright, E. E. Schirtzinger, T. Matsumoto, J. R. Eberhard, G. R. Graves, J. J. Sanchez, S. Capelli, H. Muller, J. Scharpegge, G. K. Chambers, et al.
A Multilocus Molecular Phylogeny of the Parrots (Psittaciformes): Support for a Gondwanan Origin during the Cretaceous
Mol. Biol. Evol., October 1, 2008; 25(10): 2141 - 2156.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Phil Trans R Soc BHome page
R. Ricklefs and E. Bermingham
The West Indies as a laboratory of biogeography and evolution
Phil Trans R Soc B, July 27, 2008; 363(1502): 2393 - 2413.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Syst BiolHome page
A. F. Hugall, R. Foster, and M. S. Y. Lee
Calibration Choice, Rate Smoothing, and the Pattern of Tetrapod Diversification According to the Long Nuclear Gene RAG-1
Syst Biol, August 1, 2007; 56(4): 543 - 563.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Syst BiolHome page
S. L. Pereira, K. P. Johnson, D. H. Clayton, and A. J. Baker
Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA Sequences Support a Cretaceous Origin of Columbiformes and a Dispersal-Driven Radiation in the Paleogene
Syst Biol, August 1, 2007; 56(4): 656 - 672.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol LettHome page
J. W Brown, R. B Payne, and D. P Mindell
Nuclear DNA does not reconcile 'rocks' and 'clocks' in Neoaves: a comment on Ericson et al.
Biol Lett, June 22, 2007; 3(3): 257 - 260.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
M. J. Benton and P. C. J. Donoghue
Paleontological Evidence to Date the Tree of Life
Mol. Biol. Evol., January 1, 2007; 24(1): 26 - 53.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol LettHome page
P. G.P Ericson, C. L Anderson, T. Britton, A. Elzanowski, U. S Johansson, M. Kallersjo, J. I Ohlson, T. J Parsons, D. Zuccon, and G. Mayr
Diversification of Neoaves: integration of molecular sequence data and fossils
Biol Lett, December 22, 2006; 2(4): 543 - 547.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Poult. Sci.Home page
K. Zhan, Z. C. Hou, H. F. Li, G. Y. Xu, R. Zhao, and N. Yang
Molecular Cloning and Expression of the Duplicated Thyroid Hormone Responsive Spot 14 (THRSP) Genes in Ducks.
Poult. Sci., October 1, 2006; 85(10): 1746 - 1754.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
N. Backstrom, M. Brandstrom, L. Gustafsson, A. Qvarnstrom, H. Cheng, and H. Ellegren
Genetic Mapping in a Natural Population of Collared Flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis): Conserved Synteny but Gene Order Rearrangements on the Avian Z Chromosome
Genetics, September 1, 2006; 174(1): 377 - 386.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
S. L. Pereira and A. J. Baker
A Mitogenomic Timescale for Birds Detects Variable Phylogenetic Rates of Molecular Evolution and Refutes the Standard Molecular Clock
Mol. Biol. Evol., September 1, 2006; 23(9): 1731 - 1740.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Syst BiolHome page
E. S. Tavares, A. J. Baker, S. L. Pereira, and C. Y. Miyaki
Phylogenetic Relationships and Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Parrots (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae: Arini) Inferred from Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA Sequences
Syst Biol, June 1, 2006; 55(3): 454 - 470.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
K. E. Slack, C. M. Jones, T. Ando, G. L. Harrison, R. E. Fordyce, U. Arnason, and D. Penny
Early Penguin Fossils, Plus Mitochondrial Genomes, Calibrate Avian Evolution
Mol. Biol. Evol., June 1, 2006; 23(6): 1144 - 1155.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
Y. Go
Lineage-Specific Expansions and Contractions of the Bitter Taste Receptor Gene Repertoire in Vertebrates
Mol. Biol. Evol., May 1, 2006; 23(5): 964 - 972.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc R Soc BHome page
A. J Baker, S. L. Pereira, O. P Haddrath, and K.-A. Edge
Multiple gene evidence for expansion of extant penguins out of Antarctica due to global cooling
Proc R Soc B, January 7, 2006; 273(1582): 11 - 17.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Immunol.Home page
D. A. Moon, S. M. Veniamin, J. A. Parks-Dely, and K. E. Magor
The MHC of the Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) Contains Five Differentially Expressed Class I Genes
J. Immunol., November 15, 2005; 175(10): 6702 - 6712.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Syst BiolHome page
J. Cubo, F. Ponton, M. Laurin, E. De Margerie, and J. Castanet
Phylogenetic Signal in Bone Microstructure of Sauropsids
Syst Biol, August 1, 2005; 54(4): 562 - 574.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J HeredHome page
D. M. Webb and J. Zhang
FoxP2 in Song-Learning Birds and Vocal-Learning Mammals
J. Hered., May 1, 2005; 96(3): 212 - 216.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Genome ResHome page
W. A. Kellner, R. T. Sullivan, B. H. Carlson, NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, and J. W. Thomas
Uprobe: A genome-wide universal probe resource for comparative physical mapping in vertebrates
Genome Res., January 1, 2005; 15(1): 166 - 173.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
F. K. Barker, A. Cibois, P. Schikler, J. Feinstein, and J. Cracraft
Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation
PNAS, July 27, 2004; 101(30): 11040 - 11045.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
G. L. (A. Harrison, P. A. McLenachan, M. J. Phillips, K. E. Slack, A. Cooper, and D. Penny
Four New Avian Mitochondrial Genomes Help Get to Basic Evolutionary Questions in the Late Cretaceous
Mol. Biol. Evol., June 1, 2004; 21(6): 974 - 983.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J HeredHome page
M. van Tuinen and E. A. Hadly
Calibration and Error in Placental Molecular Clocks: A Conservative Approach Using the Cetartiodactyl Fossil Record
J. Hered., May 1, 2004; 95(3): 200 - 208.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
L.-J. L. Handley, H. Ceplitis, and H. Ellegren
Evolutionary Strata on the Chicken Z Chromosome: Implications for Sex Chromosome Evolution
Genetics, May 1, 2004; 167(1): 367 - 376.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of PaleontologyHome page
THE EFFECT OF EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FOSSIL CALIBRATIONS ON THE AVIAN EVOLUTIONARY TIMESCALE
Journal of Paleontology, January 1, 2004; 78(1): 45 - 50.


Home page
 J. Clin. Microbiol.Home page
J. F. X. Wellehan, M. Gagea, D. A. Smith, W. M. Taylor, Y. Berhane, and D. Bienzle
Characterization of a Herpesvirus Associated with Tracheitis in Gouldian Finches (Erythrura [Chloebia] gouldiae)
J. Clin. Microbiol., September 1, 2003; 41(9): 4054 - 4057.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
M. J. Benton and F. J. Ayala
Dating the Tree of Life
Science, June 13, 2003; 300(5626): 1698 - 1700.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Biol EvolHome page
T. M. Prychitko and W. S. Moore
Alignment and Phylogenetic Analysis of {beta}-Fibrinogen Intron 7 Sequences Among Avian Orders Reveal Conserved Regions Within the Intron
Mol. Biol. Evol., May 1, 2003; 20(5): 762 - 771.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of PaleontologyHome page
PROGRESS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN ARCHOSAUR PHYLOGENETICS
Journal of Paleontology, November 1, 2001; 75(6): 1185 - 1201.



Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.