Introduction to Phylogenetic Networks

provides a thorough introduction to the

current attempts by bioinformaticians

to expand the traditional notion of

representing evolutionary history using

dichotomous phylogenetic trees. The resulting phylogenetic networks

generalize the trees by allowing cross-

connections between branches. These

cross-branches might represent

horizontal gene flow (hybridization,

lateral gene transfer), in addition to

the vertical gene flow (from parent

to offspring) represented by the tree

branches. The cross-branches might

also display other types of conflicting

signals in phylogenetic datasets,

thus additionally acting as an

effective means of exploratory data

analysis within phylogenetics. The book provides a conceptual

(non-mathematical) introduction for

biologists, as well as an introduction

to the biology for computational

scientists. It is abundantly supplied

with real biological examples. ISBN 978-91-980099-0-3

© 2011 David Morrison

vi+216 pages

105 figures

453 literature references

Glossary

Indexed