PHYLOGENY OF INVERTEBRATES DEDUCED FROM 18S RIBOSOMAL-RNA COMPARISONS

Original and literature data are employed to discuss the results and p rospects of studies in invertebrate phylogeny based on comparisons of 188 rRNA sequences. Among the problems discussed are origin and early radiation of multicellular animals. Bilateria is shown to be a monophy letic group. The logics of molecular phylogenetics is analyzed. Taking as an example the evolution of 188 rRNA gene of Homoptera and Hemipte ra, an attempt is made to analyze how molecular characters may be used in classical phylogenetic analysis.