Review article

Disharmony between paleontology and molecular biology

Tonći Kokić orcid.org/0000-0002-6918-0666 ; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Split

Abstract

Since 1990, there is a growing disharmony among the
evolutionary evidences in paleontology and molecular biology
related to data needed for dating of evolutionary events and
reconstruction of phylogenetic tree. Molecular studies on the
timing of origin of some orders (e.g., modern birds and mammals)
are almost twice larger than fossil records. This discrepancy
suggests that it is not clearly determined which type of data is
incorrect and that it is necessary to further explore credibility of
both types of evidence and question the validity of phylogenetic
tree. Partial (un)successfulness in alignment of molecular dating
of the fossil records leaves number of gaps and significant
dilemma on age, mode of origin (sudden or slow) and the position
of living forms on phylogenetic tree, and the credibility of current
evolutionary picture. This paper does not decide on the incorrect
type of evidence, but uses disparity of paleontology and molecular
biology in the reconstruction of the past evolutionary events,
suggesting inseparability of scientific and philosophical questions,
on the theory-ladennes of empirical evidence and confirms the
assumption of interim validity of scientific theories.

Keywords

evolution; molecular biology; molecular clock; paleontology; phylogenetic tree

Hrčak ID:

94867

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/94867

Publication date:

14.1.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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