ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Open Tree of Life

Open Tree of Life is like a family tree, but instead of connecting people, it connects living things. It's like a big map that scientists use to help them understand how living things are related to each other. A tree of life is made up of branches, and at the end of each branch is a type of living thing. Scientists can look at the tree to see how different types of living things are connected, and how different branches have grown over time. They can also use the tree of life to compare the different types of living things, which helps them learn more about them.