Summary
Branching diagrams that show inferred evolutionary relationships among species.
In depth
Nodes represent common ancestors, branches lineages and tips the taxa. Branch lengths can show time or amount of change. Only the branching pattern matters, not the order of tips; rotating branches around a node doesn't change the tree.
Trees are hypotheses based on morphology or molecular data.
Trees are hypotheses about relationships, built from morphology or molecular data. Reading them: sister taxa share the most recent node, and rotating branches around a node does not change the tree. A rooted tree has a common ancestor at the base, and an unrooted tree shows relationships without direction. Whales are nested within even-toed ungulates, and closest to hippos.
Mistakes include reading a tree as a ladder of progress (there are no higher or lower organisms) or assuming that taxa nearest each other on the page are the closest relatives. Birds are living dinosaurs in cladistic terms. Tools include the Tree of Life Web Project and Open Tree of Life.
Frequently asked questions
What is Phylogenetic Trees?
Branching diagrams that show inferred evolutionary relationships among species.
Which area of biology covers Phylogenetic Trees, and how advanced is it?
Phylogenetic Trees is one of the 53 topics in Evolution. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Cladistics, Adaptive Radiation, Maximum Likelihood Phylogenetics.
Why does Phylogenetic Trees matter?
Trees guide conservation priorities, trace the origin of outbreaks (such as SARS-CoV-2 variants) and test evolutionary hypotheses.
Can you give an example of Phylogenetic Trees?
Whales are nested inside the even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla), with hippos as their closest relatives.
What should I learn before Phylogenetic Trees?
Work through the Beginner topics in Evolution first, such as Evolution, Natural Selection, Charles Darwin, then return to Phylogenetic Trees. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
What topics are related to Phylogenetic Trees?
The closest topics to Phylogenetic Trees are Cladistics, Adaptive Radiation, Maximum Likelihood Phylogenetics, Macroevolution. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Phylogenetic Trees?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Phylogenetic Trees. To practise the whole of Evolution, use the Evolution quiz.
How is Phylogenetic Trees different from Cladistics?
Phylogenetic Trees: Branching diagrams that show inferred evolutionary relationships among species. Cladistics: A classification method grouping organisms by shared derived characteristics into clades. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Phylogenetic Trees step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Cladistics and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Evolution quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.