Dating branches on the tree of life using DNA

Genome Biol. 2002;3(1):REVIEWS0001. doi: 10.1186/gb-2001-3-1-reviews0001. Epub 2001 Dec 20.

Abstract

The use of DNA sequences to estimate the timing of evolutionary events is increasingly popular, although it is fraught with practical difficulties. But the exponential growth of relevant information and improved methods of analysis are providing increasingly reliable sequence-derived dates, and it may become possible to reconcile fossil-derived and molecular estimates of divergence times within the next few years.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics*
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny*
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Proteins
  • DNA