There are two repositories of biological

history on Earth. One lies in the rock record: isotope fractionations, stromatolites, fossils, etc. Another is in the molecular diversity of biology. Through the analysis of phylogenies - diagrams which depict hypotheses of evolutionary trajectories, there is hope that we might be able to find the types of life which preceded what we find on the planet today. How can we make reliable inferences in this area? and how far back in time are these inferences valid for? These are basic but very important questions for us.

Techniques used:

gene phylogeny ・ protein structure comparison ・ information theory