Probabilities on Phylogenetic Trees

[Tom DiBenedetto]

 Byron Adams wrote:
>        Wait a minute - did I miss something here?  I thought boldness was
>a function of probability such that "statement boldness" is the inverse of
>its likelihood (i.e. a "very bold" statement is one that is not very likely
>[sic]).

yes

>This definition makes sense to me when I imagine the intestinal
>fortitude required to stand in front of my peers and suggest that a bush
>(unresolved polytomy) is actually the best estimate of phylogenetic
>relationships for the group.

Hmmm, the best estimate of the phylogenetic relationships of a group
is that no phylogenetic relationships exist?

>  Now *that's* a bold statement.

I guess so!

>Or maybe this is a different kind of "boldness" (lunacy)?

no comment
:)



Tom DiBenedetto                 http://www-personal.umich.edu/~tdib/
Fish Division                                   tdib at umich.edu
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology