Ancestral state reconstruction

Ancestral state reconstruction is a scientific method used to infer how certain traits or features of organisms might have appeared in their common ancestors, based on the traits observed in current species. By analyzing genetic or physical characteristics across related species, scientists can estimate what earlier species or ancestors might have looked like or how they behaved. This helps us understand the evolutionary history and how specific traits have changed or remained stable over time, providing a clearer picture of the development of life on Earth.