Evolution is the fundamental organizing principle of biology and phylogeny is the fundamental framework for understanding evolutionary history. Reconstructing the Tree of Life has been a goal of biologists since Darwin first included his conception of a phylogenetic tree as the sole figure in On the Origin of Species. However, the recognized importance of accurately reconstructing evolutionary history now extends far beyond the confines of evolutionary biology. Historical evolutionary inference has become an integral component of research in molecular biology, genomics, medicine, conservation, agriculture, epidemiology, and even forensics.
Our lab evaluates, creates, and applies phylogenetic methods to some of today's most pressing questions.