What is the main driver for modern understanding of wallaby relationships versus skeletal features?
Answer
Molecular data comparing DNA sequences
Contemporary research into the evolutionary placement of wallabies relies increasingly on molecular data, specifically by comparing the DNA sequences of different macropods. This genomic approach offers a higher resolution map of genetic relationships, allowing researchers to resolve ambiguities in how various genera relate to one another that might be obscured by relying solely on skeletal morphology or gross external features. While genomic studies confirm deep branching patterns seen in the fossil record, the internal genetic code provides the most robust confirmation of the wallaby's evolutionary placement.
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