phylogeny
nounUK /faɪˈlɒdʒəni/
US /faɪˈlɑːdʒəni/
Phylogeny is the family tree of a group of living things, showing how they are related over time.
Scientists study the phylogeny of birds to learn which dinosaurs they came from.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The branch of biology that studies how groups of organisms are related through evolution.
She teaches phylogeny at the university.
3. The developmental history of a particular feature or trait in an organism.
The phylogeny of the eye can be traced across many animal groups.
4. The origin and historical development of any group or system, not only living things.
The phylogeny of languages shows how they split from common roots.