The Tempo of Evolutionary Change in Primate Karyotypes: Speciation Mode and Phylogenetic Inferences

Abstract

Evolutionary inferences made on the basis of cytogenetic data are of considerable value to biologists and anthropologists. Although a considerable amount of data has accumulated on the rates of cytogenetic change among lineages, there has been a general failure to appreciate the implications of these observations for the overall study of the evolutionary processes, and for the interpretation of other bodies of cytogenetic data. My goals in this paper are to discuss evolutionary rates; to focus on the factors influencing the rate of karyotypic change; and to show how phylogenetic influences may be made from karyotype data -- with special reference to the order Primates.