The Emerging Field of Geogenomics: Constraining Geological Problems with Genetic Data

Authors

Paul A. Baker, Duke UniversityFollow
Sherilyn C. Fritz, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Christopher W. Dick, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Andrew J. Eckert, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
Brian K. Horton, University of Texas–Austin, Austin, Texas
Stefano Manzoni, Stockholm University
Camila C. Ribas, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Manaus, AM 69060-000, Brazil
Carmala N. Garzione, University of Rochester
David S. Battisti, University of Washington

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

Published in Earth-Science Reviews 135 (2014), pp. 38–47

Comments

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. Used by permission.

Abstract

The development of a genomics-derived discipline within geology is timely, as a result of major advances in acquiring and processing geologically relevant genetic data. This paper articulates the emerging field of “geogenomics,” which involves the use of large-scale genetic data to constrain geological hypotheses. The paper introduces geogenomics and discusses how hypotheses can be ad-dressed through collaboration between geologists and evolutionary biologists. As an example, geogenomic methods are applied to evaluate competing hypotheses regarding the timing of the Andean uplift, the closure of the Isthmus of Panama, the onset of trans-Amazon drainage, and Quaternary climate variation in the Neotropics.