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11: Gene Trees

Phylogenetics, tree comparisons, evolutionary distances, and patterns of inheritance.

LibreTexts reference: Gene Trees and Relationships

Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 1)

Click to show Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 1) example problem
3 taxa × 3 taxa distance matrix
taxa Chimera Hydra Manticore
Chimera × 8 16
Hydra 8 × 24
Manticore 16 24 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Chimera, Hydra, Manticore. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Chimera and taxon Hydra is 8. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Hydra and taxon Manticore is 24 and the distance between taxon Manticore and taxon Hydra is 24.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 2)

Click to show Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 2) example problem
4 taxa × 4 taxa distance matrix
taxa Elwet Manticore Wyvern Yawclor
Elwet × 28 6 22
Manticore 28 × 28 16
Wyvern 6 28 × 26
Yawclor 22 16 26 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Elwet, Manticore, Wyvern, Yawclor. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Elwet and taxon Manticore is 28. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Manticore and taxon Wyvern is 28 and the distance between taxon Wyvern and taxon Manticore is 28.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 3)

Click to show Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 3) example problem
5 taxa × 5 taxa distance matrix
taxa Narloc Phoenix Thorret Xeraph Yawclor
Narloc × 44 36 22 32
Phoenix 44 × 50 52 46
Thorret 36 50 × 32 8
Xeraph 22 52 32 × 36
Yawclor 32 46 8 36 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Narloc, Phoenix, Thorret, Xeraph, Yawclor. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Narloc and taxon Phoenix is 44. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Phoenix and taxon Thorret is 50 and the distance between taxon Thorret and taxon Phoenix is 50.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 4)

Click to show Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 4) example problem
6 taxa × 6 taxa distance matrix
taxa Ashen Dibblet Jackalope Manticore Rynoth Thorret
Ashen × 30 32 34 58 60
Dibblet 30 × 24 24 58 58
Jackalope 32 24 × 8 52 60
Manticore 34 24 8 × 62 56
Rynoth 58 58 52 62 × 46
Thorret 60 58 60 56 46 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Ashen, Dibblet, Jackalope, Manticore, Rynoth, Thorret. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Ashen and taxon Dibblet is 30. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Dibblet and taxon Jackalope is 24 and the distance between taxon Jackalope and taxon Dibblet is 24.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 5)

Click to show Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 5) example problem
7 taxa × 7 taxa distance matrix
taxa Ashen Elwet Rynoth Thorret Wyvern Xeraph Yawclor
Ashen × 70 70 38 46 8 38
Elwet 70 × 64 74 72 78 66
Rynoth 70 64 × 74 72 74 70
Thorret 38 74 74 × 48 38 22
Wyvern 46 72 72 48 × 44 46
Xeraph 8 78 74 38 44 × 38
Yawclor 38 66 70 22 46 38 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Ashen, Elwet, Rynoth, Thorret, Wyvern, Xeraph, Yawclor. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Ashen and taxon Elwet is 70. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Elwet and taxon Rynoth is 64 and the distance between taxon Rynoth and taxon Elwet is 64.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Different Phylogenetic Trees (Easy)

Click to show Different Phylogenetic Trees (Easy) example problem

Find the DIFFERENT tree

Phylogenetic trees are fundamental tools in genetics research, enabling scientists to visualize evolutionary relationships among species, gene sequences, or populations. By tracing shared ancestry, these trees can provide valuable insights into genetic biodiversity. Applications of phylogenetic trees include tracking disease evolution, identifying conserved genetic sequences, and understanding speciation processes. Phylogenetic trees are indispensable for both theoretical and applied genetics.
The tree diagram below is a phylogenetic tree with 6 leaves. This phylogenetic tree is affectionately named: "6balanced1".

tree code common name: 6balanced1
 Yawclor 
 Dibblet 
 Zypher 
 Kraken 
 Vyrax 
 Manticore 


Among the five phylogenetic trees displayed below, all but one have the same structure and represent the same evolutionary relationships as the tree above.
Your task is to identify the single different phylogenetic tree that does NOT share the same structure or relationships as the reference tree above.

Which one of the following phylogenetic trees represents a DIFFERENT phylogenetic tree?

 

Different Phylogenetic Trees (Medium)

Click to show Different Phylogenetic Trees (Medium) example problem

Find the DIFFERENT tree

Phylogenetic trees are fundamental tools in genetics research, enabling scientists to visualize evolutionary relationships among species, gene sequences, or populations. By tracing shared ancestry, these trees can provide valuable insights into genetic biodiversity. Applications of phylogenetic trees include tracking disease evolution, identifying conserved genetic sequences, and understanding speciation processes. Phylogenetic trees are indispensable for both theoretical and applied genetics.
The tree diagram below is a phylogenetic tree with 7 leaves. This phylogenetic tree is affectionately named: "3comb+pair+1+1".

tree code common name: 3comb+pair+1+1
 Chimera 
 Rynoth 
 Faylen 
 Dibblet 
 Unicorn 
 Wyvern 
 Phoenix 


Among the six phylogenetic trees displayed below, all but one have the same structure and represent the same evolutionary relationships as the tree above.
Your task is to identify the single different phylogenetic tree that does NOT share the same structure or relationships as the reference tree above.

Which one of the following phylogenetic trees represents a DIFFERENT phylogenetic tree?

 

Different Phylogenetic Trees (Rigorous)

Click to show Different Phylogenetic Trees (Rigorous) example problem

Find the DIFFERENT tree

Phylogenetic trees are fundamental tools in genetics research, enabling scientists to visualize evolutionary relationships among species, gene sequences, or populations. By tracing shared ancestry, these trees can provide valuable insights into genetic biodiversity. Applications of phylogenetic trees include tracking disease evolution, identifying conserved genetic sequences, and understanding speciation processes. Phylogenetic trees are indispensable for both theoretical and applied genetics.
The tree diagram below is a phylogenetic tree with 8 leaves. This phylogenetic tree is affectionately named: "None".

 Phoenix 
 Bellen 
 Manticore 
 Elwet 
 Gorret 
 Jackalope 
 Kraken 
 Vyrax 


Among the eight phylogenetic trees displayed below, all but one have the same structure and represent the same evolutionary relationships as the tree above.
Your task is to identify the single different phylogenetic tree that does NOT share the same structure or relationships as the reference tree above.

Which one of the following phylogenetic trees represents a DIFFERENT phylogenetic tree?

 

Same Phylogenetic Trees (Easy)

Click to show Same Phylogenetic Trees (Easy) example problem

Find the SAME tree

Phylogenetic trees are fundamental tools in genetics research, enabling scientists to visualize evolutionary relationships among species, gene sequences, or populations. By tracing shared ancestry, these trees can provide valuable insights into genetic biodiversity. Applications of phylogenetic trees include tracking disease evolution, identifying conserved genetic sequences, and understanding speciation processes. Phylogenetic trees are indispensable for both theoretical and applied genetics.
The tree diagram below is a phylogenetic tree with 5 leaves. This phylogenetic tree is affectionately called: "5comb".

tree code common name: 5comb
 Xeraph 
 Thorret 
 Jackalope 
 Lystra 
 Phoenix 



Several phylogenetic trees are shown below, but only one has the SAME structure and represents the same relationships as the phylogenetic tree above.
Your task is to identify the single same phylogenetic tree that shares the same structure and relationships as the reference tree above.

Which one of the following phylogenetic trees represents the SAME tree relationships or is equivalent to the phylogenetic tree above?

 

Same Phylogenetic Trees (Medium)

Click to show Same Phylogenetic Trees (Medium) example problem

Find the SAME tree

Phylogenetic trees are fundamental tools in genetics research, enabling scientists to visualize evolutionary relationships among species, gene sequences, or populations. By tracing shared ancestry, these trees can provide valuable insights into genetic biodiversity. Applications of phylogenetic trees include tracking disease evolution, identifying conserved genetic sequences, and understanding speciation processes. Phylogenetic trees are indispensable for both theoretical and applied genetics.
The tree diagram below is a phylogenetic tree with 6 leaves. This phylogenetic tree is affectionately called: "6twohead3".

tree code common name: 6twohead3
 Lystra 
 Phoenix 
 Sphinx 
 Vyrax 
 Dibblet 
 Jackalope 



Several phylogenetic trees are shown below, but only one has the SAME structure and represents the same relationships as the phylogenetic tree above.
Your task is to identify the single same phylogenetic tree that shares the same structure and relationships as the reference tree above.

Which one of the following phylogenetic trees represents the SAME tree relationships or is equivalent to the phylogenetic tree above?

 

Same Phylogenetic Trees (Rigorous)

Click to show Same Phylogenetic Trees (Rigorous) example problem

Find the SAME tree

Phylogenetic trees are fundamental tools in genetics research, enabling scientists to visualize evolutionary relationships among species, gene sequences, or populations. By tracing shared ancestry, these trees can provide valuable insights into genetic biodiversity. Applications of phylogenetic trees include tracking disease evolution, identifying conserved genetic sequences, and understanding speciation processes. Phylogenetic trees are indispensable for both theoretical and applied genetics.
The tree diagram below is a phylogenetic tree with 8 leaves. This phylogenetic tree is affectionately called: "None".

 Elwet 
 Faylen 
 Thorret 
 Narloc 
 Chimera 
 Jackalope 
 Inktoad 
 Yawclor 



Several phylogenetic trees are shown below, but only one has the SAME structure and represents the same relationships as the phylogenetic tree above.
Your task is to identify the single same phylogenetic tree that shares the same structure and relationships as the reference tree above.

Which one of the following phylogenetic trees represents the SAME tree relationships or is equivalent to the phylogenetic tree above?

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