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PROTISTAN PHYLOGENY: MULTIPLE WORKING HYPOTHESES
Author(s) -
Tappan Helen
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.2307/1218706
Subject(s) - phylogenetics , biology , phylogenetic tree , generalization , evolutionary biology , fossil record , morphology (biology) , zoology , ecology , epistemology , genetics , philosophy , gene
Summary The method of the “multiple working hypothesis” is best applied to “those subjects in which, while much is known, more remains to be known,” a description which certainly is applicable to the Phylogeny of the Protista. Although various proposed phylogenies have been stoutly defended by their authors as unassailable, each has been based on one or another line of evidence, generalization or previous assumption which is contested strongly by others. Previous workers have regarded the Protista as animals or as plants, as one distinct kingdom, or as including representatives of two, three or as many as 13 kingdoms. Classifications and phylogenetic interpretations have been based on various aspects of morphology, cytology, ultrastructure, biochemistry, physiology, life cycles, or the fossil record. Each resulting classification has much supporting evidence but leaves unanswered other vexing problems. The present symposium includes only a sampling of the types of approach currently being used, but may aid in stimulating additional interest and study of the highly diverse and intriguing organisms known as the Protista.