Dissertation Research: Higher Level Systematics of Mammals: A Molecular Approach

在序贯水平上对胎盘哺乳动物之间的关系知之甚少。这项研究将采用酶扩增(聚合酶链式反应)和核苷酸测序的线粒体细胞色素氧化酶亚基II基因的一些真核生物的顺序。具体地说，假设的超级目Archonta(由灵长类、树鼠、蝙蝠和飞行狐猴组成)和Glires(啮齿动物、兔子和鼠兔)将被详细研究。此外，该基因将在其中一些目的潜在姐妹类群中进行测序，例如食虫动物和象鼠。将评估每一类群的序列间差异，并将基于鉴定共享的派生特征(同形)的关系假设为基础，这些特征(同形)使用一只犰螂和穿山甲作为外类群分类群。这项研究的结果应该提供一个强有力的框架，在这个框架内解释真兽类飞行滑翔生活方式的辐射以及啮齿动物和兔子独特的颅骨特征。

The relationships among the placental mammals are poorly understood at the ordinal level. This study will employ enzymatic amplification (polymerase chain reaction) and nucleotide sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene in a number of eutherian orders. Specifically, the postulated superorders Archonta (comprised of primates, tree shrews, bats, and flying lemurs) and Glires (rodents, rabbits, and pikas) will be examined in detail. In addition, this gene will be sequenced in potential sister taxa to some of these orders, such as insectivores and elephant shrews. Interordinal variation will be assessed for each group and hypotheses of relationship will be based upon the identification of shared, derived characters (synapomorphies) using an armadillo and pangolin as outgroup taxa. The results of this study should provide a strong framework within which to interpret the radiation of a flying-gliding lifestyle in eutherians and the unique cranial traits of rodents and rabbits.