Phylogenetic Networks
Concepts, Algorithms and Applications

First interdisciplinary overview of phylogenetic networks, covering biological background, the underlying mathematics, the computational algorithms and the software available.

Daniel H. Huson (Author), Regula Rupp (Author), Celine Scornavacca (Author)

9780521755962, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 December 2010

376 pages, 189 b/w illus. 80 exercises
25.3 x 17.9 x 2 cm, 0.89 kg

'… a brave and ambitious attempt to describe the field of phylogenetic networks anno 2012 from a motivated algorithmic perspective … a formidable achievement … It will deservedly become essential reading for both mathematically inclined researchers already working in the field and those looking for an easy way to enter the field. … an important milestone in the development of the field.' Systematic Biology

The evolutionary history of species is traditionally represented using a rooted phylogenetic tree. However, when reticulate events such as hybridization, horizontal gene transfer or recombination are believed to be involved, phylogenetic networks that can accommodate non-treelike evolution have an important role to play. This book provides the first interdisciplinary overview of phylogenetic networks. Beginning with a concise introduction to both phylogenetic trees and phylogenetic networks, the fundamental concepts and results are then presented for both rooted and unrooted phylogenetic networks. Current approaches and algorithms available for computing phylogenetic networks from different types of datasets are then discussed, accompanied by examples of their application to real biological datasets. The book also summarises the algorithms used for drawing phylogenetic networks, along with the existing software for their computation and evaluation. All datasets, examples and other additional information and links are available from the book's companion website at www.phylogenetic-networks.org.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Basics
2. Sequence alignment
3. Phylogenetic trees
4. Phylogenetic networks
Part II. Theory: 5. Clusters and rooted phylogenetic networks
6. Splits and unrooted phylogenetic networks
Part III. Algorithms and Applications: 7. Phylogenetic networks from clusters
8. Phylogenetic networks from splits
9. Phylogenetic networks from sequences
10. Phylogenetic networks from distances
11. Phylogenetic networks from trees
12. Phylogenetic networks from triplets or quartets
13. Drawing phylogenetic networks
14. Software
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Molecular biology [PSD], Genetics [non-medical PSAK]