Phylogenetic Analysis and Human Evolution in BIO 324

Phylogeny

Study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities.

Allele

Variant form of a gene at a specific locus.

BRCA1

Gene associated with increased breast cancer risk.

Coalescence

Common ancestry point in gene trees.

Genetic Loci

Specific locations on chromosomes where genes reside.

Synapomorphy

Shared derived trait used for phylogenetic analysis.

Gene Trees

Diagrams showing evolutionary relationships among alleles.

Species Trees

Diagrams depicting evolutionary relationships among species.

Incomplete Lineage Sorting

Gene trees not matching species trees due to ancestral variation.

Introgression

Gene flow between species through hybridization.

Homoplasy

Similar traits arising independently, not from common ancestry.

Molecular Evolution

Study of evolutionary changes at the molecular level.

Maximum Parsimony

Method favoring simplest tree explanation for data.

Bootstrapping

Statistical method assessing accuracy of sample estimates.

Distance Matrix

Matrix representing genetic distances between taxa.

Maximum Likelihood

Estimation method finding most probable phylogenetic tree.

Bayesian Methods

Statistical approach using probability to infer phylogenies.

Neighbor-Joining

Clustering method based on genetic distance comparisons.

Multiregional Model

Theory of gradual human evolution across continents.

Out-of-Africa Model

Theory of human evolution originating solely in Africa.

Neutral Theory

Most molecular evolution is due to genetic drift.

Molecular Clock

Method estimating time of evolutionary events using mutation rates.

Selective Sweep

Rapid spread of advantageous alleles through populations.

Genetic Hitchhiking

Non-selected alleles increase in frequency with selected alleles.

Synonymous Mutation

Mutation that does not change amino acid sequence.

Nonsynonymous Mutation

Mutation that alters amino acid sequence of proteins.

dN/dS Ratio

Measure of selection strength on genes.

Purifying Selection

Selection preserving function by removing deleterious mutations.

Positive Selection

Selection favoring advantageous mutations in populations.

Genome Size Variation

Differences in genome sizes across organisms.