what is a phylogenetic tree

Answer 1

A phylogenetic tree is a branching diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among different species or groups of organisms. The tree illustrates the evolutionary history of life on Earth, with the splitting points representing the points at which two groups of organisms diverged from a common ancestor. The structure of a phylogenetic tree is based on shared traits or characteristics among the organisms being compared, such as DNA sequences, anatomical features, or behavior patterns. Phylogenetic trees are widely used in biology to help understand the relationships between different species and to reconstruct the evolutionary history of life.