Estimating the Age of Eukaryotic Diversity
Author Information
Author(s): Chernikova Diana, Motamedi Sam, Csürös Miklós, Koonin Eugene V, Rogozin Igor B
Primary Institution: National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Hypothesis
What is the divergence time of the extant eukaryotic diversity?
Conclusion
The study suggests a relatively young Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) at approximately 1.1 to 1.4 billion years ago.
Supporting Evidence
- The divergence of bilaterian animal phyla is estimated at ~400-700 million years ago.
- The age of LECA is estimated at ~1,000-1,300 million years ago.
- Estimates of the age of Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) vary approximately twofold, from ~1,100 million years ago to ~2,300 million years ago.
Takeaway
Scientists studied how long ago different types of living things, like plants and animals, started to exist and found that they all likely came from a common ancestor about 1.1 to 1.4 billion years ago.
Methodology
The study used genome-wide analysis of rare genomic changes associated with conserved amino acids to estimate divergence times.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the selection of calibration points and the methods used for molecular dating.
Limitations
The study's estimates are based on molecular data which can be affected by various artifacts and uncertainties.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% confidence interval from 719 Mya to 1,161 Mya.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website