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. Statistically, this can be represented as an ancestor having state "0" in all characteristics where 0 represents a lack of that characteristic. Each of these characteristics changes from 0 to 1 exactly once and never reverts to state 0. It is rare that actual data adheres to the concept of perfect phylogeny.
Read more about Perfect Phylogeny: Building A Phylogenetic Tree, Example, Usage, External Links
Famous quotes containing the word perfect:
“The civility of no race can be perfect whilst another race is degraded.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)