The History in Our Genes

A set of vocabulary flashcards related to gene evolution and phylogenetic trees.

Gene Trees

The branching path of descent with modification that describes the genealogy of a gene.

Coalescence

The process in which the genealogy of any pair of homologous alleles merges in a common ancestor.

Incomplete Lineage Sorting

A term used for descendant species inheriting different subsets of ancestral alleles.

Introgression

The movement of alleles from one species or population to another.

Phylogenetic Trees

Diagrams that show the relationships among different species based on morphological traits or DNA sequences.

Synapomorphy

A genetic change or trait that is shared among a group of organisms, indicating a common ancestry.

BRCA1 Allele

A specific version of a gene that is studied to understand its phylogenetic relationships among alleles.

Gene Tree vs. Species Tree

Gene trees do not always match species trees due to processes like incomplete lineage sorting and introgression.

Mutational Transition

The change from one nucleotide base to another, important in illustrating relationships in gene trees.

Common Ancestor

An individual from which a particular allele descends through the genealogical lineage.