Natural Sciences >> Integrative Biology

Calculating Phylogenetic Trees to Observe Evolution

by Caitlyn Murdock

 

Submitted : Fall 2012


The problem examined is how to calculate and build a phylogenetic tree based on nine differing species’ actin protein sequences. Methods to build phylogenetic trees from protein sequences are Kimura, maximum likelihood, Bayesian method, maximum parsimony, and minimum evolution which all contain probability and calculus. After constructing a phylogenetic tree, the common ancestry can be observed and interpreted. From the results, all of the differing species had a common ancestry although they seemed completely different. Through this it can be determined that evolution is apparent when comparing species. Factors leading to speciation cause this evolutionary change, which is depicted through the phylogenetic tree.


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Advisors :
Arcadii Grinshpan, Mathematics and Statistics
Egor Dolzhenko, MUG Specialist
Suggested By :
Egor Dolzhenko