PLoS Biology (May 2024)

Trees as a metaphor to understand relationships in biology.

  • Roland G Roberts,
  • PLOS Biology staff editors

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002681
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 5
p. e3002681

Abstract

Read online

The phylogenetic tree has been a core conceptual tool for evolutionary biology for nearly 200 years. This editorial explores the role of the tree as a metaphor, discussing two new PLOS Biology Essays that look to the future.