What molecular tools do researchers use to reconstruct divergence times between tick groups?
Answer
Comparisons of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA
Contemporary research employs advanced molecular techniques to map the evolutionary history of ticks, including efforts to determine divergence times between various groups. Specifically, scientists rely on the comparative analysis of both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA segments. By examining the variations and accumulation of mutations in these distinct types of genetic material, researchers can effectively reconstruct the phylogenetic tree of ticks. This molecular reconstruction process is often correlated with major environmental shifts, such as changes in climate or host availability, that occurred throughout evolutionary time, providing context for observed speciation.
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