Perspectives on the Phylogenetic Tree

The concepts of phylogenetic modeling are constantly changing causing limitations to the classic model to arise.

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the passing of genetic material between species by mechanisms other than from parent to offspring.

Genome fusion occurs during endosymbiosis, which is the mechanism proposed as responsible for the first eukaryotic cells.

To more accurately describe the phylogenetic relationships of life, web and ring models have been proposed as updates to tree models.