26.3 parsimony and likelihood

Question 1

how do you figure out which phylogenetic tree is accurate?

Answer 1

parsimony and likelihood

Question 2

whats maximum parsimony

Answer 2

we should first investigate the simplest explanation that is consistent with the facts

Question 3

maximum parsimony examples

Answer 3

when a phylogenetic tree is based on morphology, the most parsimonious tree requires the fewest evolutionary events as measured by the origin of shared derived characteristics when phylogenetic tree are based on DNA, the most parsimonious tree requires the fewest base changes

Question 4

whats maximum likelihood

Answer 4

the tree reflects the most likely sequence of evolutionary events

for example, a tree that predicts equal change over time is mre likely than a tree that predicts unequal changes in time