evolutionary trees

Evolutionary trees, also known as phylogenetic trees, are diagrams that show the relationships among different species or groups based on their shared ancestors. Think of them as family trees, where each branch point represents a common ancestor. The closer two species are on the tree, the more recent their common ancestor, indicating they are more closely related. These trees help scientists understand how species have evolved over time, how they are connected through evolution, and how traits have developed across generations. They are essential tools for studying the history of life on Earth.