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Re: Planet of the New Papers



Weir, J.T., and Schluter, D. 2008. Calibrating the avian molecular clock.
Molecular Ecology 17(10):2321-2328. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.03742.x.

ABSTRACT: Molecular clocks are widely used to date phylogenetic events, yet
evidence supporting the rate constancy of molecular clocks through time and
across taxonomic lineages is weak. Here, we present 90 candidate avian clock
calibrations obtained from fossils and biogeographical events.

Why do they even bother? Why don't they use a post-1995 method that can, you know, deal with rate variations and therefore doesn't require a strict clock in the first place?


Or what have I missed?