Perfect phylogeny
Encyclopedia
Perfect phylogeny is a term used in computational phylogenetics
to denote a phylogenetic tree
in which all internal nodes may be labeled as such that all characters evolve down the tree without homoplasy. That is, characteristics do not hold to evolutionary convergence
, and do not have analogous
structures.
Computational phylogenetics
Computational phylogenetics is the application of computational algorithms, methods and programs to phylogenetic analyses. The goal is to assemble a phylogenetic tree representing a hypothesis about the evolutionary ancestry of a set of genes, species, or other taxa...
to denote a phylogenetic tree
Phylogenetic tree
A phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree is a branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species or other entities based upon similarities and differences in their physical and/or genetic characteristics...
in which all internal nodes may be labeled as such that all characters evolve down the tree without homoplasy. That is, characteristics do not hold to evolutionary convergence
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
, and do not have analogous
Analogy (biology)
An analogy is a trait or an organ that appears similar in two unrelated organisms. The cladistic term for the same phenomenon is homoplasy, from Greek for same form. Biological anologies are often the result of convergent evolution....
structures.