Molecular Systematics of Plants II

Between 1993 and 1998, the field of molecular systematics advanced at an astonishing pace. This period has been marked by a volume of empirical data and advances in theoretical and analytical issues related to DNA. Comparative DNA sequencing, facilitated by the amplification of DNA via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), has become the tool of choice for molecular systematics. As a result, large portions of the "Molecular Systematics of Plants" became outdated. This update summarizes these recent achievements in plant molecular systematics. Like its predecessor, this work illustrates the potential of DNA markers for addressing a wide variety of phylogenetics and evolutionary questions. The volume provides guidance in choosing appropriate techniques, as well as appropriate genes for sequencing, for given levels of systematic inquiry. More than a review of techniques and previous work, the text provides a stimulus for developing future research in this rapidly evolving field. The book is not only written for systematists (faculty, graduate students, and researchers), but also for evolutionary biologists, botanists, and paleobotanists interested in reviewing current theory and practice in plant molecular systematics.