ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Phylogenetic comparative methods

Phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs) are like a family tree for animals, plants, and other living things. They are used to study how similar these living things are to each other—which ones may have evolved from a shared ancestor, for example. Scientists take data about the living things and use it to create a family tree. The tree shows how the living things are related in a clear and easy-to-understand way.