What is a major advantage of maximum likelihood methods as compared with parsimony methods?
A) Maximum likelihood methods are computationally easier.
B) Maximum likelihood methods can be used with molecular data.
C) Unlike parsimony methods,maximum likelihood methods can be used for studying relationships among very similar organisms.
D) Unlike parsimony methods,maximum likelihood methods can be used for studying relationships among distantly related organisms.
E) Maximum likelihood methods incorporate more information about evolutionary change.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maximum likelihood methods incorporate more information about evolutionary change, including the rate of evolution and the distribution of nucleotide substitutions, which can result in more accurate phylogenetic inferences. Parsimony methods, on the other hand, rely solely on the minimum number of evolutionary changes required to explain the observed data, which may not necessarily reflect the true evolutionary history.

What Is a Major Advantage of Maximum Likelihood Methods as Compared