Editing Molecular phylogenetics (section)

{{Short description|Branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences}}

'''Molecular phylogenetics''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|l|ɛ|k|j|ᵿ|l|ər|_|ˌ|f|aɪ|l|oʊ|dʒ|ə|ˈ|n|ɛ|t|ɪ|k|s|,_|m|ɒ|-|,_|m|oʊ|-}}{{refn|{{Citation |last=Jones |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Jones (phonetician) |title=English Pronouncing Dictionary |editor=Peter Roach |editor2=James Hartmann |editor3=Jane Setter |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |orig-year=1917 |year=2003 |isbn=3-12-539683-2 }}}}{{refn|{{MerriamWebsterDictionary|Phylogenetic}}}}) is the branch of [[phylogeny]] that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to determine the processes by which diversity among species has been achieved. The result of a molecular [[phylogenetics|phylogenetic]] analysis is expressed in a [[phylogenetic tree]]. Molecular phylogenetics is one aspect of '''molecular systematics''', a broader term that also includes the use of molecular data in [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] and [[biogeography]].<ref>[[Joe Felsenstein|Felsenstein, J.]] 2004. ''Inferring phylogenies''. Sinauer Associates Incorporated. {{ISBN|0-87893-177-5}}.</ref><ref>[[Pamela S. Soltis|Soltis, P.S.]], [[Douglas E. Soltis|Soltis, D.E.]], and Doyle, J.J. (1992) ''Molecular systematics of plants''. Chapman & Hall, New York. {{ISBN|0-41202-231-1}}.</ref><ref>Soltis, P.S., Soltis, D.E., and Doyle, J.J. (1998) ''Molecular Systematics of Plants II: DNA Sequencing''. Kluwer Academic Publishers Boston, Dordrecht, London. {{ISBN|0-41211-131-4}}.</ref>

Molecular phylogenetics and [[molecular evolution]] correlate. Molecular evolution is the process of selective changes (mutations) at a molecular level (genes, proteins, etc.) throughout various branches in the tree of life (evolution). Molecular phylogenetics makes inferences of the evolutionary relationships that arise due to molecular evolution and results in the construction of a phylogenetic tree.<ref>[[David Hillis|Hillis, D. M.]] & Moritz, C. 1996. ''Molecular systematics''. 2nd ed. Sinauer Associates Incorporated. {{ISBN|0-87893-282-8}}.</ref>