title: Split decomposition: a new and useful approach to phylogenetic analysis of distance data.
abstract: In order to analyze the structure inherent to a matrix of dissimilarities (such as evolutionary distances) we propose to use a new technique called split decomposition. This method accurately dissects the given dissimilarity measure as a sum of elementary "split" metrics plus a (small) residue. The split summands identify related groups which are susceptible to further interpretation when casted against the available biological information. Reanalysis of previously published ribosomal RNA data sets using split decomposition illustrate the potential of this approach.
authors.affiliation: Mathematisches Seminar, Universität Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bandelt
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Dress
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid