Question

Explain what parsimony is and why it is preferred in comstructing phylogenetic trees.

Under optimal conditions, all the methods discussed [parsimony, maximum likelihood, neighbor joining akr bayesian inference reveal the true branching pattern of the phylogeny in question with accuracies appraoching 100%. However, real phylogenies are rarely inferred under ideal circumstances. Explain, using examples, why this is so.

Answer 1

parsimony means that a hypothesis of relationships that require the smallest number of character changes is most likely to be correct. so maximum parsimony is the criteria under which the phylogenetic tree that minimizes the total number of character-state changes is to be preferred. this will minimize the amount of convergent evolution, parallel evolution and evolutionary reversals.

there is no precise tree in phylogenetics. all you can obtain is a tree that supports most evidences and a tree that can support the hypothesis based on the character.