Technical comment on "The placental mammal ancestor and the post-K-Pg radiation of placentals"

Science. 2013 Aug 9;341(6146):613. doi: 10.1126/science.1238025.

Abstract

O'Leary et al. (Research Article, 8 February 2013, p. 662) examined mammalian relationships and divergence times and concluded that a single placental ancestor crossed the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary. This conclusion relies on phylogenetic analyses that fail to discriminate between homology and homoplasy and further implies virus-like rates of nucleotide substitution in early Paleocene placentals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Female
  • Fossils*
  • Mammals*
  • Phylogeny*
  • Pregnancy