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Heterochronous data sets comprise molecular sequences sampled at different points in time. If the temporal range of the sampled sequences is large relative to the rate of mutation, the sampling times can directly calibrate evolutionary rates to calendar time. Here, we extend this calibration process to provide a full probabilistic method that utilizes temporal information in heterochronous data sets to estimate sampling times (leaf-ages) for sequenced for which this information unavailable. Our method is similar to relaxing the constraints of the molecular clock on specific lineages within a phylogenetic tree. Using a combination of synthetic and empirical data sets, we demonstrate that the method estimates leaf-ages reliably and accurately. Potential applications of our approach include incorporating samples of uncertain or radiocarbon-infinite age into ancient DNA analyses, evaluating the temporal signal in a particular sequence or data set, and exploring the reliability of sequence ages that are somehow contentious.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/molbev/msq262

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Biol Evol

Publication Date

02/2011

Volume

28

Pages

879 - 887

Keywords

Animals, Bayes Theorem, Bison, Computer Simulation, DNA, Mitochondrial, Dengue Virus, Models, Genetic, Phylogeny, Time