title: The essentials of computational molecular evolution.
abstract: In this chapter, we give a brief yet self-contained introduction to computational molecular evolution. In particular, we present the emergence of the use of likelihood-based methods, review the standard DNA substitution models, and introduce how model choice operates. We also present recent developments in inferring absolute dates and rates on a phylogeny and show how state-of-the-art models take inspiration from diffusion theory to link population genetics, which traditionally focuses at a taxonomic level under that of species, and molecular evolution.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biology and Mathematics & Statistics and Center for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. sarisbro@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aris-Brosou
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodrigue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D010802:Phylogeny