Molluscan Phylogeny and Evolution Research

Phylogenomic tools (the sequencing and analysis of large genomic fractions of organisms for phylogenetic analysis) have emerged as a powerful means to elucidating phylogenetic events that were difficult to address using standard target-gene approaches. Among the toughest phylogenetic conundrums are the relationships among the molluscan classes (aplacophorans, chitons, monoplacophorans, cephalopods, bivalves, gastropods and scaphopods). In collaboration with Casey Dunn at Brown University and Nerida Wilson at Scripps Institution of Oceanography we will collect ESTs for a selected number of molluscs in order to come up with a well supported phylogeny for the second largest animal phylum.