title: Cladogenesis, coalescence and the evolution of the three domains of life.
abstract: In this article, we explore the large-scale structure of the tree of life by using a simple model with a constant number of species and rates of speciation that equal the rates of extinction. In addition, we discuss the consequences of horizontal gene transfer for the concept of a most recent common ancestor of all living organisms (cenancestor). A simple null hypothesis based on coalescence theory explains some features of the observed topologies of the tree of life. Simulations of genes and organismal lineages suggest that there was no single common ancestor that contained all the genes ancestral to those shared among the three domains of life. Each contemporary molecule has its own history that traces back to an individual molecular cenancestor. However, these molecular ancestors were likely to be present in different organisms and at different times.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zhaxybayeva
authors.forename: J Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gogarten
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001105:Archaea / Q000502:physiology*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D000069497:Origin of Life; D010802:Phylogeny; D013997:Time Factors