Molecular Phylogenetic Approaches: Distance Matrix Methods in Evolutionary Biology

1. Molecular Phylogenetics Dan Graur

6. Molecular phylogenetic approaches: 1. distance-matrix (based on distance measures) 2. character-state (based on character states) 3. maximum likelihood (based on both character states and distances)

7. DISTANCE-MATRIX METHODS In the distance matrix methods, evolutionary distances (usually the number of nucleotide substitutions or amino-acid replacements between two taxonomic units) are computed for all pairs of taxa, and a phylogenetic tree is constructed by using an algorithm based on some functional relationships among the distance values.

8. Multiple Alignment

9. Distance Matrix* *Units: Numbers of nucleotide substitutions per 1,000 nucleotide sites

10. Distance Methods: UPGMA Neighbor-relations Neighbor joining

11. UPGMA Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means

12. UPGMA employs a sequential clustering algorithm, in which local topological relationships are identified in order of decreased similarity, and the tree is built in a stepwise manner.

13. simple OTUs

14. composite OTU

17. UPGMA only works if the distances are strictly ultrametric.

18. Neighborliness methods The neighbors-relation method (Sattath & Tversky) The neighbor-joining method (Saitou & Nei)

19. In an unrooted bifurcating tree, two OTUs are said to be neighbors if they are connected through a single internal node.

20. If we combine OTUs A and B into one composite OTU, then the composite OTU (AB) and the simple OTU C become neighbors.

21. A + + + C B D < = Four-Point Condition

24. In distance-matrix methods, it is assumed: Similarity Kinship

25. From Similarity to Relationship • Similarity = Relationship, only if genetic distances increase with divergence times (monotonic distances).

26. From Similarity to Relationship Similarities among OTUs can be due to: • Ancestry: • Shared ancestral characters (plesiomorphies) • Shared derived characters (synapomorphy) • Homoplasy: • Convergent events • Parallel events • Reversals

28. Parsimony Methods: Willi Hennig 1913-1976

29. “Pluralitas non est ponenda sine neccesitate.” (Plurality should not be posited without necessity.) Occam’s razor William of Occam or Ockham (ca. 1285-1349) English philosopher & Franciscan monk Excommunicated by Pope John XXII in 1328. Officially rehabilitated by Pope Innocent VI in 1359.

30. MAXIMUM PARSIMONY METHODS Maximum parsimony involves the identification of a topology that requires the smallest number of evolutionary changes to explain the observed differences among the OTUs under study. In maximum parsimony methods, we use discrete character states, and the shortest pathway leading to these character states is chosen as the best or maximum parsimony tree. Often two or more trees with the same minimum number of changes are found, so that no unique tree can be inferred. Such trees are said to be equally parsimonious.

31. invariant

32. variant

33. uninformative

34. informative

39. Inferring the maximum parsimony tree: 1. Identify all the informative sites. 2. For each possible tree, calculate the minimum number of substitutions at each informative site. 3. Sum up the number of changes over all the informative sites for each possible tree. 4. Choose the tree associated with the smallest number of changes as the maximum parsimony tree.

40. In the case of four OTUs, an informative site can only favor one of the three possible alternative trees. Thus, the tree supported by the largest number of informative sites is the most parsimonious tree.

41. With more than 4 OTUs, an informative site may favor more than one tree, and the maximum parsimony tree may not necessarily be the one supported by the largest number of informative sites.

42. The informative sites that support the internal branches in the inferred tree are deemed to be synapomorphies. All other informative sites are deemed to be homoplasies.

44. Parsimony is based solely on synapomorphies

46. Variants of Parsimony Wagner-Fitch: Unordered. Character state changes are symmetric and can occur as often as neccesary. Camin-Sokal: Complete irreversibility. Dollo: Partial irreversibility. Once a derived character is lost, it cannot be regained. Weighted: Some changes are more likely than others. Transversion: A type of weighted parsimony, in which transitions are ignored.

47. Fitch’s (1971) method for inferring nucleotides at internal nodes

48. Fitch’s (1971) method for inferring nucleotides at internal nodes The set at an internal node is the intersection () of the two sets at its immediate descendant nodes if the intersection is not empty. The set at an internal node is the union () of the two sets at its immediate descendant nodes if the intersection is empty. When a union is required to form a nodal set, a nucleotide substitution at this position must be assumed to have occurred. number of unions = minimum number of substitutions

49. 4 substitutions 3 substitutions Fitch’s (1971) method for inferring nucleotides at internal nodes