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Glite Dictionary
phylogenetic relation

phylogenetic relation

9.8
A relationship showing how species are related because they came from the same older species
  • noun
  • /ˌfaɪloʊdʒəˈnɛtɪk rɪˈleɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : relación filogenética
  • Genetic studies are often used to determine the phylogenetic relation among closely related species.

Examples

  • The phylogenetic relation between humans and chimpanzees is well documented.

  • The phylogenetic relation between birds and dinosaurs has been well established by fossil evidence.

  • Understanding the phylogenetic relation can help scientists track the evolutionary history of a group.

  • Understanding phylogenetic relations helps scientists classify species.

  • Scientists study the phylogenetic relation between different species to better understand their evolutionary history.

  • The phylogenetic relation of these birds indicates that they share a common ancestor from millions of years ago.

  • Using DNA analysis, researchers can determine the phylogenetic relation of various plants and how they have evolved over time.

Synonyms

affinity
vsphylogenetic relation
  • Specialized
7 7.0

A strong connection between molecules or proteins in science

is specific to shared ancestry causing structural similarity rather than general closeness
phylogeny
vsphylogenetic relation
  • Specialized
2 9.9

The history of how a group of living things changes over a long time

focuses on the relationship that causes structural similarity rather than history
homogeny
vsphylogenetic relation
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A similarity in body parts that comes from a common ancestor, for example similar bones in birds and mammals

describes the evolutionary relationship that explains those similarities

Surface Forms

phylogenetic relation singular
phylogenetic relations plural

Morphology

phylogenetic + relation

The meaning 'evolutionary relationship' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'phylogenetic' (connected to evolution) with 'relation' (a connection), following the regular adjective+noun composition pattern. This concept and wording have clear parallels in many languages, so a learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase phylogenetic relation comes from the idea of a family tree for living things. Here phylogenetic means 'family history' and relation means a 'family link', so the phrase shows the 'family' connection between species.