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Phylogenetics and Genome Evolution definitions

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  • Phylogenetic Tree
    A branching diagram showing evolutionary relationships based on shared ancestry and homologous traits.
  • Homologous Trait
    A characteristic inherited from a common ancestor, indicating evolutionary relatedness among organisms.
  • Homologue
    A gene descended from the same ancestral gene, present in different species or within the same genome.
  • Ortholog
    A gene in different species that originated from a common ancestor due to speciation events.
  • Paralog
    A gene within the same genome that arose from duplication, potentially evolving new or related functions.
  • Gene Duplication
    A process where a segment of DNA is copied, resulting in multiple gene copies within a genome.
  • Gene Family
    A group of related genes within a genome, all originating from repeated duplication events.
  • Speciation
    An evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species from a common ancestor.
  • Molecular Clock
    A method estimating divergence times by comparing mutation numbers and using known mutation rates.
  • Mutation Rate
    The frequency at which genetic changes occur in a DNA sequence over a specific period.
  • Fossil Record
    Historical evidence from preserved remains used to calibrate evolutionary timelines and mutation rates.
  • Neutral Mutation
    A genetic change with no effect on fitness, unaffected by natural selection, useful for molecular clock estimates.
  • Natural Selection
    A process influencing which genetic variants persist, potentially altering mutation rate estimates.
  • Lineage
    A sequence of species or populations tracing descent from a common ancestor.
  • Divergence Date
    The estimated time when two lineages last shared a common ancestor, often inferred from genetic data.