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PMID: 17194223 Published · ppublish English Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Evaluating support for the current classification of eukaryotic diversity.

PLoS genetics ·Vol. 2 ·No. 12 ·2006-12-00 ·Pages e220

Parfrey LW, Barbero E, Lasser E, Dunthorn M, Bhattacharya D, Patterson DJ, Katz LA

Abstract

Perspectives on the classification of eukaryotic diversity have changed rapidly in recent years, as the four eukaryotic groups within the five-kingdom classification--plants, animals, fungi, and protists--have been transformed through numerous permutations into the current system of six "supergroups." The intent of the supergroup classification system is to unite microbial and macroscopic eukaryotes based on phylogenetic inference. This supergroup approach is increasing in popularity in the literature and is appearing in introductory biology textbooks. We evaluate the stability and support for the current six-supergroup classification of eukaryotes based on molecular genealogies. We assess three aspects of each supergroup: (1) the stability of its taxonomy, (2) the support for monophyly (single evolutionary origin) in molecular analyses targeting a supergroup, and (3) the support for monophyly when a supergroup is included as an out-group in phylogenetic studies targeting other taxa. Our analysis demonstrates that supergroup taxonomies are unstable and that support for groups varies tremendously, indicating that the current classification scheme of eukaryotes is likely premature. We highlight several trends contributing to the instability and discuss the requirements for establishing robust clades within the eukaryotic tree of life.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cell Nucleus/genetics Chloroplasts/genetics Eukaryota/genetics Eukaryotic Cells/classification,physiology Evolution, Molecular Fungi/classification,genetics Genetic Variation Humans Multigene Family/genetics Phylogeny Plants/classification,genetics
Authors & Affiliations
7 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Parfrey Laura Wegener
Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Barbero Erika
Lasser Elyse
Dunthorn Micah
Bhattacharya Debashish
Patterson David J
Katz Laura A
Conflict of Interest

Competing interests. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Article Info
Journal
PLoS genetics
Abbr.
PLoS Genet
ISSN
1553-7404
DOI
10.1371/journal.pgen.0020220
Published
2006-12-00
Epub
2006-00-13
Pages
e220
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
101239074
PMCID
PMC1713255
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.0020220 PMC Full Text View journal details
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