Phylogenetic Trees Made Easy: A How-To Manual

Phylogenetic Trees Made Easy, Fifth Edition helps the reader get started in creating phylogenetic trees from protein or nucleic acid sequence data. Although aimed at molecular and cell biologists, who may not be familiar with phylogenetic or evolutionary theory, it also serves students who have a theoretical understanding of phylogenetics but need guidance in transitioning to a practical application of the methodology. The reader is led, step by step, through identifying and acquiring the sequences to be included in a tree, aligning the sequences, estimating the tree by one of several methods, and drawing the tree for presentation to an intended audience. "Learn More" boxes present background on the various concepts and methods.

Note: Files needed for working through the tutorials in the text, as well as additional software that facilitates some of the methods discussed, can be accessed via the Ancillary Resource Center link on this page.

About the Author:

Barry G. Hall is Director of the Bellingham Research Institute, Adjunct Professor of Genomics and Bioinformatics at the Allegheny-Singer Research Institute's Center for Genomic Sciences, and Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Rochester. A founding member of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, he has served as Editor-in-Chief of its journal, Molecular Biology and Evolution, and on the Editorial Boards of Genetics, the Journal of Molecular Evolution, and the Journal of Bacteriology. His current research interests include the molecular epidemiology of bacterial pathogens and application of genomic analysis to rapid prediction of antibiotic sensitivity in clinical applications. He has continued to publish 2-3 papers a year since his retirement in 2003.