SOLTIS, PAMELA S. School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164. - Molecular phylogenetics and beyond.
Plant molecular systematics has been transformed during the past 15
years through the combined application of molecular techniques and
phylogenetic methodology. During this brief window in time, molecular
data have become increasingly sophisticated and increasingly easy to
obtain. The ease with which molecular data are currently generated
provides both opportunities and challenges for molecular systematics.
These include (1) choices of DNA regions for analysis, including the
development of nuclear genes appropriate for phylogeny reconstruction
at a number of hierarchical levels and whole-genome comparisons,
particularly of the chloroplast genome; (2) data handling, including
the development and refinement of phylogenetic methodologies for
analysis of many samples and methods for storage and retrieval of both
data sets and trees; (3) integration of molecular and other types of
data; (4) use of molecular-based phylogenetic trees for analyses of
morphological, biochemical, and molecular characters; and (5)
extension of phylogenetic/historical methodologies not only for
analysis of population dynamics but also for analysis of gene
histories, both across taxa and within gene families.
Key words: analysis, character evolution, DNA, genomes, phylogeny