Optimization of morphological data in numerical taxonomy analysis using genetic algorithms feature selection method

Studies in Numerical Taxonomy are carried out by measuring characters as much as possible. The workload over scientists and labor to perform measurements will increase proportionally with the number of variables (or characters) to be used in the study. However, some part of the data may be irrelevant or sometimes meaningless. Here in this study, we introduce an algorithm to obtain a subset of data with minimum characters that can represent original data. Morphological characters were used in optimization of data by Genetic Algorithms Feature Selection method. The analyses were performed on an 18 character*11 taxa data matrix with standardized continuous characters. The analyses resulted in a minimum set of 2 characters, which means the original tree based on the complete data can also be constructed by those two characters

Molecular diversity among Turkish oaks (QUERCUS) using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis

The genus Quercus (Fagaceae) includes the most important woody plants with decidious and evergreen species in Northern hemisiphere. They have a problematic taxonomy because of widespread hybridization between the infrageneric taxa. Turkey is one of the most important region of the world according to oak species number and variation. In this study, species belonging to evergreen oaks in Turkey were investigated to solve taxonomic problems and to design the limit of taxa by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) data. Here, three species of evergreen oaks known as Quercus coccifera, Quercus ilex and Quercus aucheri were studied in all area located and made the comparison within and among species studied using ten RAPD markers. As a result; it can be stated that the presence of the three species in Ilex section is clear. Furthermore, existence of two infraspecific taxa or two seperate taxa in species level within Q. coccifera may be quite possibly considered.Key words: Quercus ilex, Quercus coccifera, Quercus aucheri, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)