An algorithm for calculating the probability of classes of data patterns on a genealogy

PLoS Currents
Jordan M Koch, Mark T Holder

Abstract

Felsenstein's pruning algorithm allows one to calculate the probability of any particular data pattern arising on a phylogeny given a model of character evolution. Here we present a similar dynamic programming algorithm. Our algorithm treats the tree and model as known. The algorithm makes it feasible to calculate the probability that a randomly selected character will be a member of a particular class of character patterns. Specifically, we are interested in binning patterns by the number of parsimony steps and the set of states observed at the tips of the tree. This algorithm was developed to expand the range of data set sizes that can be used with Waddell et al.'s marginal testing approach for assessing the adequacy of a model. The algorithms introduced can also be used in likelihood calculations which correct for ascertainment biases. For example, Lewis introduced an Mkv model which corrects for the lack of constant sites. The probability of a constant pattern arising can be calculated using the algorithm that we present, or by enumerating all possible constant patterns and calculating the probability of each one. Because the number of constant data patterns is small, both methods are efficient. However, elaborations of the...Continue Reading

Software Mentioned

MTH
NCL
pytbeaglehon
BEAGLE
Fitch

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