Universal scaling in the branching of the tree of life

Abstract

Understanding the patterns and process of diversification of life in the planet is a key of science. The Tree of Life represents such diversification process through the evolutionary relationships among the different taxa, and can be extended down to intra-specific relationships. Here we examine the topological properties of a large set of interspecific and intraspecific phylogenies and show that the branching patterns follow the standard null models. The finding of non-random universal patterns of phylogenetic differentiation suggests that similar evolutionary forces drive diversification across the broad range of scales, from macro-evolutionary to micro-evolutionary processes, shaping the diversity of life on the planet. © 2008 Herrada et al.