SOME PROBLEMS IN THE METHODOLOGY OF CLADISTICS

This paper offers a critique of the principal methods used for reconst ructing phylogenies as a basis for classification, particularly those techniques known as cladistics. There are two quite distinct approache s; the classical approach, using morphological or physiological charac ters, and the molecular approach, using sequence data. Both these are described in outline, and reviewed with a discussion of unsolved probl ems.