The Ancestor's Tale

I haven't read it yet, but it looks like it makes sense. Gene trees aren't the same as family trees. You'll have a gene tree for each gene you have.You can actually do this for yourself. If you compare a bunch of species' cytochrome c you'll get a gene tree. If you compare their haemoglobin b gene you'll get a different gene tree. You need to compare lots of genes to get an 'average' gene tree that is closest to the truth.This works at the species level, but it can also work at the individual level.So yes, if we get 10 related people, and we look at their gene trees - they will likely be a lot of gene trees that are very similar or identical.

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Incidentally, I can see how the wording looks clumsy, but the following paragraph seems to clear up what is being said I think. I often find that is the case with his books - it looks a bit odd in one light, but with further reading it seems to make sense. In my case, the more I read the paragraph the more difficult I'm finding it to 'get'. I think the above is what he's saying, but I'll have to read the book before I can commit to it Sorry.Edited by Modulous, : No reason given.Edited by Modulous, : No reason given.

I think the plural is important here.If we have three people and we compare gene A we might find the gene tree being:

X
Y     Z

If we then compare gene B we get a gene tree of

X
Y     Z

gene c:

X
Y     Z

and gene D

Y
X     Z

So the individual people (who are closely related) share three (out of four) gene trees.