ePrints@IIScePrints@IISc Home | About | Browse | Latest Additions | Advanced Search | Contact | Help

The Out-of-India hypothesis: What do molecules suggest?

Datta-Roy, Aniruddha and Karanth, K Praveen (2009) The Out-of-India hypothesis: What do molecules suggest? In: Journal of biosciences, 34 (5). pp. 687-697.

[img] PDF
687.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to Registered users only

Download (412kB) | Request a copy
Official URL: http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/record/...

Abstract

The remarkable geological and evolutionary history of peninsular India has generated much interest in the patterns and processes that might have shaped the current distributions of its endemic biota. In this regard the Out of India hypothesis, which proposes that rafting peninsular India carried Gondwanan forms to Asia after the break-up of Gondwana super continent, has gained prominence. Here we have reviewed molecular studies undertaken on a range of taxa of supposedly Gondwanan origin to better understand the Out-of-India scenario. This re-evaluation of published molecular studies indicates that there is mounting evidence supporting Out-of-India scenario for various Asian taxa. Nevertheless, in many studies the evidence is inconclusive due to lack of information on the age of relevant nodes. Studies also indicate that not all Gondwanan forms of peninsular India dispersed out of India. Many of these ancient lineages are confined to peninsular India and therefore are relict Gondwanan lineages. Additionally for some taxa an Into India rather than Out-of-India scenario better explains their current distribution. To identify the Out-of-India component of Asian biota it is imperative that we understand the complex biogeographical history of India. To this end, we propose three oversimplified yet explicit phylogenetic predictions. These predictions can be tested through the use of molecular phylogenetic tools in conjunction with palaeontological and geological data.

Item Type: Journal Article
Publication: Journal of biosciences
Publisher: Indian acad sciences
Additional Information: copyright of this article belongs to Indian acad sciences.
Keywords: Gondwanan biogeography;India;molecular dating;molecular phylogeny.
Department/Centre: Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited: 09 Jan 2010 11:32
Last Modified: 19 Sep 2010 05:54
URI: http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/25309

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item