DNA-DNA hybridizations support ungulate ancestry of Cetacea

Recent morphological data on Pakicetus spp. and Basilosaurus spp. fossils suggest that cetaceans originate from carnivorous Mesonychid land mammals (Condylarthra) and made a gradual transition from land to sea in early Eocene. On the other hand, there is convincing evidence that Artidactyla and Perissodactyla have evolved from Condylarthra. Therefore, the Pakicetus and Basilosaurus data suggest a close genetic relationship between cetaceans and ungulates. An approach based on molecular genetics was used in this study to test the morphological hypothesis. The results show a greater sequence similarity - and thus a lower genetic distance - between cetaceans and ungulates than between cetaceans and other mammals. -from AuthorSCOPUS: NotDefined.jFLWIN