Re: Conodont debate

[N.MacLeod@xxxxxxxxx (N. MacLeod)]

The string devoted to the question of conodonts and vertebrate ancestry on
the vertpaleo list has been quite interesting with various commentators
making lots of points that invertebrate and micropaleo. types would be
well-advised to take note of.  This conversation raises many issues
concerning to how we go about inferring things like ancestry and
"relatedness" in the fossil record as well as the proper phylogenetic
interpretation of conodonts.  Since relatively few PaleoNet subscribers are
also members of the vertpaleo list, perhaps someone closer to the debate
could summarize the issues from both points of view, or at least forward
the critical postings to PaleoNet that PaleoNet readers can get a feeling
as to how this debate is playing out.  I would do it myself, but (not being
a conodont worker) I haven't been saving the relevant postings.

Norm MacLeod


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Norman MacLeod
Senior Scientific Officer
N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (Internet)
N.MacLeod@uk.ac.nhm (Janet)

Address: Dept. of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum,
         Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Office Phone: 071-938-9006
Dept. FAX:  071-938-9277
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