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11: Gene Trees

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

LibreTexts reference: Gene Trees and Relationships

Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 1)

Click to show Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 1) example problem
3 taxa × 3 taxa distance matrix
taxa Bellen Wyvern Yawclor
Bellen × 24 16
Wyvern 24 × 12
Yawclor 16 12 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Bellen, Wyvern, Yawclor. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Bellen and taxon Wyvern is 24. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Wyvern and taxon Yawclor is 12 and the distance between taxon Yawclor and taxon Wyvern is 12.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 2)

Click to show Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 2) example problem
4 taxa × 4 taxa distance matrix
taxa Jackalope Manticore Wyvern Yawclor
Jackalope × 2 32 30
Manticore 2 × 30 28
Wyvern 32 30 × 20
Yawclor 30 28 20 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Jackalope, Manticore, Wyvern, Yawclor. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Jackalope and taxon Manticore is 2. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Manticore and taxon Wyvern is 30 and the distance between taxon Wyvern and taxon Manticore is 30.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 3)

Click to show Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 3) example problem
5 taxa × 5 taxa distance matrix
taxa Faylen Phoenix Rynoth Wyvern Xeraph
Faylen × 48 48 24 42
Phoenix 48 × 8 54 54
Rynoth 48 8 × 52 56
Wyvern 24 54 52 × 38
Xeraph 42 54 56 38 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Faylen, Phoenix, Rynoth, Wyvern, Xeraph. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Faylen and taxon Phoenix is 48. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Phoenix and taxon Rynoth is 8 and the distance between taxon Rynoth and taxon Phoenix is 8.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 4)

Click to show Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 4) example problem
6 taxa × 6 taxa distance matrix
taxa Bellen Chimera Jackalope Narloc Wyvern Yawclor
Bellen × 44 46 28 12 4
Chimera 44 × 48 48 38 46
Jackalope 46 48 × 54 60 52
Narloc 28 48 54 × 28 28
Wyvern 12 38 60 28 × 16
Yawclor 4 46 52 28 16 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Bellen, Chimera, Jackalope, Narloc, Wyvern, Yawclor. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Bellen and taxon Chimera is 44. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Chimera and taxon Jackalope is 48 and the distance between taxon Jackalope and taxon Chimera is 48.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 5)

Click to show Construct Gene Tree from Matrix (Level 5) example problem
7 taxa × 7 taxa distance matrix
taxa Elwet Hydra Jackalope Manticore Phoenix Wyvern Xeraph
Elwet × 38 72 42 44 36 74
Hydra 38 × 78 28 22 30 80
Jackalope 72 78 × 70 76 74 58
Manticore 42 28 70 × 28 4 72
Phoenix 44 22 76 28 × 34 72
Wyvern 36 30 74 4 34 × 72
Xeraph 74 80 58 72 72 72 ×

The table above represents a distance matrix for the following taxa: Elwet, Hydra, Jackalope, Manticore, Phoenix, Wyvern, Xeraph. The values in the matrix correspond to the genetic distances between pairs of taxa.
For example, the distance between taxon Elwet and taxon Hydra is 38. Distances are symmetric, meaning that both the distance between taxon Hydra and taxon Jackalope is 78 and the distance between taxon Jackalope and taxon Hydra is 78.
Using this distance matrix, determine the most appropriate gene tree that accurately reflects the relationships and distances between these taxa.

 

Identify Different Phylogenetic Tree (Easy)

Click to show Identify Different Phylogenetic Tree (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: "3comb+pair1+1".

tree code common name: 3comb+pair1+1
 Kraken 
 Jackalope 
 Xeraph 
 Bellen 
 Vyrax 
 Zypher 


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?

 

Identify Different Phylogenetic Tree (Medium)

Click to show Identify Different Phylogenetic Tree (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: "None".

 Unicorn 
 Quokka 
 Lystra 
 Rynoth 
 Faylen 
 Sphinx 
 Wyvern 


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?

 

Identify Different Phylogenetic Tree (Rigorous)

Click to show Identify Different Phylogenetic Tree (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".

 Quokka 
 Sphinx 
 Kraken 
 Elwet 
 Dibblet 
 Bellen 
 Gorret 
 Ashen 


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?

 

Identify Same Phylogenetic Tree (Easy)

Click to show Identify Same Phylogenetic Tree (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: "3comb+pair1".

tree code common name: 3comb+pair1
 Elwet 
 Quokka 
 Inktoad 
 Zypher 
 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?

 

Identify Same Phylogenetic Tree (Medium)

Click to show Identify Same Phylogenetic Tree (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
 Dibblet 
 Vyrax 
 Chimera 
 Sphinx 
 Yawclor 
 Zypher 



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?

 

Identify Same Phylogenetic Tree (Rigorous)

Click to show Identify Same Phylogenetic Tree (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".

 Oclora 
 Bellen 
 Ashen 
 Gorret 
 Manticore 
 Zypher 
 Elwet 
 Unicorn 



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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