Demystifying the Turtle Tree of Life

Michael, Ken, and Wyatt are joined by Dr. Brad Shaffer, Director of the UCLA/La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Environment and Sustainability at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Shaffer has published over 300 peer-reviewed publications, many of which have focused on the phylogenetics and conservation of the world’s turtles and tortoises. The conversation ranges from the reasons for the characteristically slow rate of molecular evolution of Testudines, common elements and problem areas in general/chelonian phylogeny reconstruction, interesting branches and how they have changed over time on the turtle tree of life, the potential utility of harnessing testudine molecular pathways in human therapeutics, the evolutionary basis of physical traits like megacephaly, and stories from adventures in pursuit of turtles.   You can learn more about Dr. Shaffer’s work here: https://sites.lifesci.ucla.edu/eeb-shafferlab/   Learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast here: https://theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast/ All donations to the CheloniaCast Podcast Student Research Fund go directly towards supporting student led research on turtles and tortoises: https://theturtleroom.org/project/cheloniacast-podcast/ All donations are greatly appreciated   Follow the CheloniaCast Podcast on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter @cheloniacast   Host social media – Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi / Wyatt Keil - @wyatts_wildlife_photography