What is phylogeny?
In a phylogeny, which is a family tree, the root symbolizes the common ancestor of all entities depicted, while the branch tips represent the descendant lineages.[1] Moving from the root towards the tips corresponds to progressing through time towards the present. Phylogenies map out the shared ancestry among lineages, highlighting both the unique evolutionary paths of individual lineages and their shared histories with others. They illustrate how, through speciation events, a single lineage diverges into two or more distinct ones. Each lineage thus has portions of its history that are uniquely its own, and parts that overlap with the histories of other lineages. [2]
Fig1: Ancestor and descendants from phylogenic tree
Moreover, a phylogeny can show how groups of lineages, or clades, are formed, encompassing a common ancestor and all its descendants. Clades, which can vary greatly in size, are structured in a nested hierarchy within the phylogeny, indicating layers of shared ancestry. The endpoint of a phylogeny’s branches, or tips, can represent various levels of biological classification, from populations within a species to species themselves, or even broader clades containing many species, depending on the scope of the tree being examined.[2]
Fig 2: Distinguish clade for phylogenic tree
phylogenetic trees of SLC35A2
This tree was created using the MUSCLE alignment and Maximum Likelihood method.
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This tree was created using the MUSCLE alignment and Neighbor joining method.
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This tree was created using the Clustal W alignment and Maximum Likelihood method.
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This tree was created using the Clustal W alignment and Maximum Likelihood method.
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Discussion
The phylogenetic trees showcasing the evolutionary relationships of the SLC35A2 gene across diverse species highlight its essential role in glycosylation and cellular transport mechanisms. Conserved across organisms from humans to plants, the SLC35A2 gene's presence suggests a fundamental biological function, pivotal for the maintenance of cellular processes like protein glycosylation. This evolutionary perspective can provide valuable insights into the gene’s potential variations and implications in processes, relevant in development and disease. Understanding SLC35A2's conservation and divergence through these trees is key to unraveling its functional importance across taxa.
Reference:
[1]Introduction to phylogeny. (n.d.). https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/introphylo.html
[2]Understanding phylogenies. (n.d.). https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolution-101/the-history-of-life-looking-at-the-patterns/understanding-phylogenies/#:~:text=Phylogenies%20trace%20patterns%20of%20shared,with%20other%20lineages%20%E2%80%94%20common%20ancestors.
Image Reference:
https://itol.embl.de/
https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolution-101/the-history-of-life-looking-at-the-patterns/understanding-phylogenies/#:~:text=Phylogenies%20trace%20patterns%20of%20shared,with%20other%20lineages%20%E2%80%94%20common%20ancestors.
[1]Introduction to phylogeny. (n.d.). https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/introphylo.html
[2]Understanding phylogenies. (n.d.). https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolution-101/the-history-of-life-looking-at-the-patterns/understanding-phylogenies/#:~:text=Phylogenies%20trace%20patterns%20of%20shared,with%20other%20lineages%20%E2%80%94%20common%20ancestors.
Image Reference:
https://itol.embl.de/
https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolution-101/the-history-of-life-looking-at-the-patterns/understanding-phylogenies/#:~:text=Phylogenies%20trace%20patterns%20of%20shared,with%20other%20lineages%20%E2%80%94%20common%20ancestors.