Speciation and the error we make in phylogenetic inference

Richèl J.C. Bilderbeek

Research output: ThesisThesis fully internal (DIV)

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Abstract

An evolutionary tree (also known as a phylogeny), is a tree-like diagram that shows the evolutionary relationship among species (e.g. humans are closer related to chimps than to crocodiles). Creating and interpreting these are important to understand speciation. A biologist makes quite some assumptions when creating an evolutionary species tree from DNA. When are these assumptions too simple or needlessly complicated? This research proposes a novel method to answer this question. This Bayesian method, named 'pirouette', does so for standard speciation models, but also for new, less explored ones.
When applying 'pirouette' to a new speciation model, we conclude that, would nature allow multiple speciations to occur simultaneously, standard speciation models still give satisfactory evolutionary trees.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution
  • University of Groningen
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Etienne, Rampal, Supervisor
  • Pigot, Alex, Co-supervisor
Award date18-Sept-2020
Place of Publication[Groningen]
Publisher
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

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