Phylogenies: An overview (Q4938833)

The theory of phylogenetic (evolutionary) trees plays an increasing role in molecular biology and in biology in general. Its main goal is to develop methods to reconstruct the genealogical trees of taxonomic units. The problems and the data come from biology to this interdisciplinary topic, while models and algorithms must use tools from statistics, combinatorics, and computer science. The researchers often come up with new methods requiring substantial insight, but many of them are less interested in mathematical rigour and analytic performance analysis of the new algorithms. Moreover, the language of this field is somewhat confusing for mathematicians. The statistician author of this wonderful survey paper on phylogenies describes the central problems, the most important methods, and clarifies the notions and terminology of this field. This paper can play a fundamental role in opening up this field for mathematicians. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0932.00050].