Dissertation Research: Phylogeny of New World Cricetid Rodents Using DNA Hybridization

艾伦·迪克曼在威斯康辛大学麦迪逊分校约翰·基尔希博士的指导下，正在利用DNA-DNA杂交技术重建鼠科啮齿动物的进化史，并检验有关这一多样化和重要的哺乳动物家族的进化速度和模式的假设。该科包括369种，分为73属。虽然这个群体的进化史是有争议的，但它似乎被分为北美和南美两个群体。这项分子水平的研究将检验关于北美和南美血统关系的假设，与旧大陆形式的关系，家族内部落的关系等。这项研究将大大增加我们对新大陆生物多样性起源的认识，特别是对哺乳动物的认识。

Allan Dickerman, working under the supervision of Dr. John Kirsch at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is using the technology of DNA-DNA hybridization to reconstruct the evolutionary history of rodents in the family Cricetidae and to test hypotheses concerned with the tempo and mode of evolution in this diverse and important family of mammals. The family comprises 369 species divided into 73 genera. Although the evolutionary history of the group is contentious, it appears to be divided into North American and South American Groups. This molecular level study will test hypotheses about the relationships of the North and South American lineages, relationships with Old World forms, relationships of tribes within the family, etc. The study will significantly increase our understanding of the origin of biodiversity within the New World, especially that of mammals.