| [Thread Prev] | [Thread Next] | [Thread Index] | [Date Prev] | [Date Next] | [Date Index] |
The best advice I would suggest is don't try anything clever till you've got tenure! However here are a couple of projects I will will doing myself in the medium future which you might like to consider: The first simulates a developing phylogeny of forms which have two or three "elements" to inhabit. When one specie slips into a different element, all its descendants tend to adapt certain of their characters in the same direction. When members of such a branch revert to their earlier element, they tend to revert back to their earlier nature. (The adaptations are controlled probabilistically.) Some features only adapt after certain others have already adapted, and they are less likely to revert. The characters of this simulated evolution's individual species are analysed cladistically. The output trees are then compared (automatically) with the true phylogenies. Certain features of the trees' stability, degree of confidence, etc etc are logged, and compared against the accuracy of the estimated trees and the true phylogenies. Competing suites of characters could be identified. In this way, the tell-tale signs of a lying claogram can be investigated. The cladogenesis could be very simple and need not need a proprietary program to be embedded in your system. You might get your local statistician or neural net specialist to advise you on analysing the significant patterns. The other project is also a simulation. It estimates certain stages in both "ground up" and "trees down" scenarios for the evolution of flight. Given estimated probablilities for certain features arising, and then letting each enhance the probability of further developments along the path to flight, and also fitness benefits and disadvantages, Monte Carlo runs would be analysed. Values of probabilities of adaptations, and fitness benefits which would be required for each of the two flight evolution scenarios to succeed could be extracted. The two scenarios could even be investigated simultaneously; conditions required for one scenario to win the race could be identified. I'd be happy to give you some advice, and code (and even happier to sell it!) and either way, provide an honest oportunity to publish your results. Cheers, John V Jackson --Original Message--From: tome@u.washington.edu To: PaleoNet@nhm.ac.uk : Wednesday, September 19, 2001 02:09 AM > I am an undergraduate in need of some sage advice. I have been challenged by my advisor to come up with a research project to complete in the next two years of my schooling. Since I am not totally up to date as to the current knowledge in the entire field of paleontology I thought I would ask the experts. I am interested in vertebrates in general and dinosaurs most of all. However suggestions from paleontology as a whole are most welcome. Anything is an improvement for my complete lack of ideas of where to start. I would like a project that is both useful and interesting if possible. So, if anyone has any ideas I would be most greatful for the input!! Thanks so much!! > > Tom Evans
Partial index: