Open AccessApproximate Likelihood Estimation of Divergence Time Range Using a Coalescent-based Model
Author(s) -
Arindam RoyChoudhury
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
evolutionary bioinformatics online
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.502
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 1176-9343
DOI - 10.4137/ebo.s13080
Subject(s) - coalescent theory , divergence (linguistics) , range (aeronautics) , resampling , confidence interval , computer science , sorting , jackknife resampling , statistics , estimation , mathematics , maximum likelihood , algorithm , biology , estimator , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , materials science , management , gene , economics , composite material , phylogenetic tree
We present an estimation of divergence time-range based on a coalescent model. This model sum the probability of coalescent trees, taking into account the effect of incomplete lineage sorting. Maximum likelihood estimate based on this model has been computed previously; however, a formula for divergence time-range estimate or confidence interval has never been presented for this model as the expression of the likelihood makes this estimation difficult to compute. Our formula for the divergence time-range estimate can be readily coded into a program. We did not use a simulation or resampling-based approach and therefore our method is fast and less computationally intensive. We demonstrate that our method is much faster and as accurate a simulation-based approach.