Question

multiple select question
select all that apply
which two of the following are true of character - based methods of phylogenetic tree - building such as maximum likelihood?

• it is the most intuitive.
• it results in phylogenetic trees that are usually less robust than those generated by distance - based methods.
• it is more complicated than distance - based methods.
• it begins with certain assumptions about evolutionary pathways.

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Explanation:

• Character-based methods like maximum likelihood use complex statistical models, making them more intricate than simpler distance-based methods that rely on sequence similarity matrices.
• These methods require starting with explicit assumptions about evolutionary processes, such as substitution rates and models of character change, to calculate tree likelihoods.
• They are not the most intuitive, and they typically produce more robust trees than distance-based methods, so the other options are incorrect.

Answer:

C. It is more complicated than distance-based methods.
D. It begins with certain assumptions about evolutionary pathways.