We propose the following simple stochastic model for phylogenetic trees. New types are born and die according to a birth and death chain. At each birth we associate a fitness to the new type sampled ...

The Bayesian method is noted to produce spuriously high posterior probabilities for phylogenetic trees in analysis of large datasets, but the precise reasons for this overconfidence are unknown. In ...

The new model focuses on phylogenetic diversity, which is very different from counting species, today's standard measure of biodiversity. The same number of species (three blue circles) can have a ...

Genomes are key to unlocking life's evolutionary history. The presence and absence of certain genetic sequences and mutations ...

There are so many more questions we have yet to answer in Zoology so grab some fossils, fire up the DNA sequences, and bring your best hypothesis as we try to figure out where all the baby eels are, ...

Phylogeny is the representation of the evolutionary history and relationships between groups of organisms. The results are represented in a phylogenetic tree that provides a visual output of ...

Creating a family tree that dates back more than 400 million years and details the evolution of the most diverse group of animals on the planet is no easy feat, but one ambitious group of scientists ...

The largest ever study of bird genetics redraws the avian evolutionary tree, challenges current classifications, alters our understanding of avian evolution, and provides a resource for future studies ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. From protozoans to people, there is a lot of life on this planet ...

The grey skulls were drawn from the sample used to model the skull of the virtual ancestor, shown in red. From left to right: KNM-ER 3733 (H. ergaster), La Ferrassie (H. neanderthalensis), Qafzeh 6 ...