Question

Minimum evolution (ME) constructs a tree with a similar procedure, but uses a different optimality criterion that finds a tree among all possible trees with a minimum overall branch length. The optimality criterion relies on the formula S = ∑bi where bi is the (i)th branch length.

(a) True

(b) False

I had been asked this question by my college director while I was bunking the class.

Question is from Distance Based Methods in division Phylogenetic Tree Construction Methods and Programs of Bioinformatics

Answer 1

The correct choice is (a) True

Easiest explanation: Searching for the minimum total branch length is an indirect approach to achieving the best fit of the branch lengths with the original dataset. Analysis has shown that minimum evolution in fact slightly outperforms the least square-based FM method.