BIOA01H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Computer Program, Confidence Interval, Genetic Distance
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Use a large number of traits to infer phylogenetic patterns. Homoplasy is expected to be rare relative to homology. Most phylogenies are based on large datasets with many characters. Statistical tools and computer simulations identify homoplasies. Among competing hypotheses, the one requiring the fewest assumptions is the favoured (most likely based on data) hypothesis. Any particular evolutionary change is a rare event. The same change happening twice is unlikely. The phylogeny with the minimum number of evolutionary changes is the preferred hypothesis. Multiple characters may be controlled by the same gene (= pleiotropy) Most species have been described on morphological data. Value available for most species (including fossils) Limitations hard to compare distantly related species. Some species show relatively few morphological differences (cryptic species: paleontology (fossil record) Value important in determining derived versus ancestral traits. Can give information on timing of divergence and origin of traits/taxa: development (ontogeny) Similarities in development patterns may reveal evolutionary relationships.