Genetically Measured Coral Kinship

2004/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Eboluzioa

However, after analyzing the genes of the mitochondria and nuclei of these corals, some researchers have stated that this view was wrong. Apparently, they have been two evolutionary lines that consider that the divergence occurred about thirty-four million years ago. Nine of the twenty-seven genera of Atlantic reef corals could belong to this second evolutionary line.

Researchers believe that morphological convergence has obscured evolutionary inequality between Atlantic corals. Some of the Atlantic genera have been classified into different families so far, but are genetically more related to each other than to Pacific relatives.