Parsimony and Bootstraps

Question 1

Parsimony principle

Answer 1

Method to tell us to choose the simplest scientific explanation to fit the given evidence. It is critical in phylogenetic tree building.

Question 2

Exhaustive search

Answer 2

When the complete phylogenetic tree space is used and the length of each possible tree calculated.

Question 3

Bootstrapping

Answer 3

A statistical technique that uses computer intensive random resampling of data to determine sampling error or confidence intervals, for an established parameter.