Articles tagged with Phylogenetic Trees
Researchers studied patterns in phylogenetic trees to understand how evolution and ecology interact. They found that ecological processes create a fractal structure in tree topology, leading to unbalanced branching.
A new formula built with mathematical modeling can accurately reconstruct the diversification history of taxa, even when fossils are rare or extinct, say Oregon and British Columbia researchers.
A recent study reconstructed the evolutionary history of amoebae, showing that life on Earth was more diverse than previously thought, with ancestors of Thecamoebians evolving at least 750 million years ago. This discovery changes our understanding of current climate change and provides new insights into the evolution of life.
A recent study reveals that the fastest rates of species formation occur at high latitudes and in cold ocean waters, contradicting the long-held assumption that tropical environments are evolutionary hot spots. The research found that cool-water and polar ocean fishes formed new species twice as fast as average tropical fish.
A new study reveals that palm trees can thrive in regions as cold as Washington DC, with an average temperature above 2 degrees Celsius. The study's findings suggest that palms are sensitive indicators of changing climates and can provide insights into past temperatures.
Recent genomic analyses have flipped between whether sponges or comb jellies are the oldest lineage of living animals. New research by Professor Davide Pisani reveals that sponges are the most ancient lineage, with models that describe the data poorly favouring comb jellies and those that better describe the data favouring sponges.
New research reveals that true frogs' rapid global dispersal was not associated with an increase in net-diversification, contradicting long-held scientific expectations. The study found that the origin of these frogs was Indochina, and their diversification occurred over millions of years through a steady accumulation of species.
A new phylogenetic tree resolves key relationships among vertebrates, including the identification of lungfishes as closest living relatives of land vertebrates. The study uses a novel set of analyses for building large-scale genomic datasets.
Ernst Haeckel's groundbreaking work in 1866 introduced the concept of monophyly and natural selection in speciation, illustrating the evolutionary history of organisms as a tree of life. This innovative method has remained unchanged for over 150 years, with its principle being widely adopted to represent biodiversity.
Researchers have created a new microbial 'family tree' that displays sudden bursts of diversification, potentially helping understand how harmful microbes evolve. This breakthrough uses coarse-graining and Λ-coalescent models to condense short branches into larger nodes, revealing patterns of ecological processes.
A new method called statistical binning has been developed to help researchers construct more accurate species trees detailing the lineage of genes and relationships between species. By combining gene data using statistical optimization techniques, scientists can use all available data without having to throw away any.
Scientists applied a new method to Australia's Acacia genus, revealing biologically important but currently unprotected areas. The study confirmed the Wet Tropics rainforests' importance and identified places of 'super-endemism', where old and new species co-exist.
A recent analysis suggests that people moved out from the Bering Land Bridge, with some migrating back to central Asia and others into North America. The findings support the Out-of-Beringia hypothesis, indicating a complex migration pattern.
The Chinese tree shrew genome sequencing provides new insights into facilitating biomedical researches, particularly in studying hepatitis C virus and depression. The study reveals that tree shrews have a higher brain to body mass ratio than humans and share genetic features with primates.
Researchers at UCSB and colleagues found that diagrams with a diagonal tree extending from left to right tend to be more easily accessible, leading to increased accuracy in comprehension. The study suggests that diagrams should be angled downward for better understanding.
Scientists are building an evolutionary tree that connects all living things, from bacteria to trees. The Open Tree of Life project aims to create a central resource for synthesized phylogenetic data, enabling researchers to compare and download the entire tree.
A team of scientists, including U-M's Stephen Smith, will attempt to complete the first rough draft of the entire tree of life in a three-year project. The Open Tree of Life project aims to enable scientists to interpret evolution patterns and predict responses to environmental change.
Researchers have sequenced two isolates from an E. coli outbreak, providing valuable genomic information to aid in understanding the origins of highly pathogenic strains. The genome annotations reveal unique islands and proteins that may hold clues to virulence or intervention strategies for the new strains.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have constructed a powerful phylogenetic tree for the gamma-proteobacteria using hundreds of genes and integrating more information than traditional single-gene approaches. The consensus tree provides a tool for predicting shared biology and analyzing bacterial adaptations to their environments.
Researchers have developed a new web-based application called Supramap that maps genetic mutations of pathogens onto the globe. The tool uses geographic information to track the spread of diseases across time and space, predicting hotspots of disease reemergence.
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center has released a new version of TreeBASE, a database that stores and shares phylogenetic information. The upgraded database allows for richer data storage, improved search techniques, and enhanced visualization tools.
Researchers developed an open-source software system called InvChecker to detect microinversions in genomic sequences. Microinversions can provide insights into genetic diversity and evolution. The new approach confirmed the existing phylogenetic tree for 15 mammals, shedding light on species splits and evolutionary relationships.
A team of biologists led by Mark Springer at the University of California, Riverside and including Ronald DeBry of the University of Cincinnati report in Nature that an intensive analysis of DNA sequences provides strong support for a grouping dubbed Afrotheria.