Why it is important to construct phylogenetic trees that are

Why it is important to construct phylogenetic trees that are accurate? Your answer must be explored from the perspective of both trait types (i.e., anatomical and molecular). Please provide answers that focus on the practical, scientific implications of knowing.

Solution

Phylogenetic trees are used to reconstruct the past history lineages, to determine when and where trait arose and to compare between genes. It is also used to estimate the time of evolutionary events.

There are several methods for construction of phylogenetic trees viz :

But the most important factor in generating the accurate phylogenetic tree is to make GOOD MULTIPLE SEQUENCE ALIGNMENT

IMPORTANCE OF CONSTRUCTION OF ACCURATE PHYLOGENETIC TREE

FROM ANATOMICAL PERSPECTIVE

FROM MOLECULAR BIOLOGY PERSPECTIVE

For example, chloroplast genes are used in phylogenetic studies of plants because as it has changed slowly through evolutionary time so it can be used to study ancient phylogenetic relationships. On the other hand, as mitochondrial DNA of animals changed for rapidly so it is used to study evolutionary relationships of closely related animals