Phylogeny

Phylogeny (from ancient Greek φῦλον - “tribe, clan” and γένεσις - “origin”) is a section of biological systematics that studies the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms and the history of their development.

The main task of phylogeny is the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees reflecting the inferred evolutionary relationships between taxa. For this purpose, comparative data on morphology, embryology, physiology, paleontology and other areas of biology are used. In recent decades, comparison of gene and protein sequences of different species has become of great importance in phylogenetic reconstructions.

Thus, phylogeny allows us to reconstruct the evolutionary history of groups of organisms and establish the degree of relationship between them. This knowledge is important for understanding the mechanisms of evolution and diversity of life on Earth.

Phylogenesis is the natural sequence of the emergence and development of organs and systems in the process of evolution of living organisms. Phylogenetic development occurs in accordance with the laws of conservation, but with the presence of transitions from one structural and functional units to others. The set of rearrangements and the emergence of neoplasms form the path of evolutionary development of certain organs, systems, organisms, starting from inception and ending with one or another function in a person. The essence of phylogeny is that less perfect structures arise first—that is, the initial embryos of organs—and then, over time, more perfect organs are formed from them. For the development of an organ, it is necessary that all the elements from which the organ develops appear and form in the embryo.