The newly published book The Timetree of Life, jointly edited by scientists on systematic evolution of biology in the worldis the first reference book to synthesize the wealth of information relating to the temporal component of phylogenetic trees. Prof. James D. Watson, one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA contributed a preface for this book and it was later published by Oxford University Press.  

This book centers on the latest progress achieved in the research of biological system evolution, the research of molecular data in particular and it provides additional information for the previous biological evolution which mainly relies on fossil record. Basic aspects of the evolutionary history of the group, the fossil record, and competing hypotheses of relationships are discussed. Details of the divergence times are presented for each node in the timetree, and primary literature references are included. The book is complemented by an online database (www.timetree.net) which allows researchers to both deposit and retrieve data.  

Prof. Shunping HE was invited to contribute some chapters relating to Teleostei Phylogenetic research.