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Trivial minimization of extra‐steps under dynamic homology
Author(s) -
Wheeler Ward C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
cladistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.323
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1096-0031
pISSN - 0748-3007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2011.00369.x
Subject(s) - sensu , homology (biology) , mathematics , minification , combinatorics , computer science , biology , mathematical optimization , zoology , genetics , genus , gene
Farris (1983) stated that the rationale of the parsimony criterion was to minimize extra (i.e. non‐minimal) steps. For traditional characters, this is equivalent to minimizing total steps (i.e. length). Under dynamic homology (sensu Wheeler, 2001), this identity is broken. Here, it is shown that extra steps (but not total) can be minimized trivially (to zero) for all data sets on all trees when insertion‐deletion events are considered. © The Willi Hennig Society 2011.