phylogenesis

The phylogenesis corresponds to the phylogenetic development of a type of living being. So it is about the process-based development history of humans and other species and the characteristics that distinguish these species. Studies of phylogenesis correspond to an analysis of individual or multiple characteristics and are often summarized in family trees. Phylogenetic analyzes can also be carried out for individual diseases.

What is Phylogenesis?

Biology uses the term phylogenesis to describe the phylogenetic development of a set of living beings and their kin groups. Sometimes the term also includes the progressive development of individual features in the course of developmental history and in this case mainly includes connections of evolution.

Phylogeny is to be distinguished from ontogeny, which refers to the development of individual individuals within a certain species. A phylogenetic reconstruction for a certain group always takes place by examining their hereditary characteristics. This analysis of features is carried out both on the living species and on its fossil representatives.

The reconstruction of a phylogenesis aims to clarify the relationships between the individual species and also enables the reconstruction of phylogenetic natural systems with the taxonomy. Phylogenetic relationships are often made visible by means of a representation in the family tree.

Function & task

Phylogenetic studies exist for a multitude of holistic as well as individual characteristics of humans. For example, there are now phylogenetic versions of language that deal specifically with the development of language in the course of the process and contain molecular genetic studies of the language genes. The morphology of the speech and language organs were compared in these phylogenetic studies. On the basis of this comparison, the researchers described the language development starting with the protozoa and finally with the recent human. The human language genes have been compared with those of other animals such as mice, songbirds and microorganisms.

The main aim of the phylogenetic studies was to improve the understanding of human language. In addition to the question of where language is needed and the limits of language performance, epistemological questions arose. Phylogenesis gives the answer to the latter that a species only knows as much of the truth as is compatible with the survival of the species.

In the phylogenetic comparisons of the morphology of speech and language organs, human language was compared in particular with that of the chimpanzee. Since the chimpanzee has, in addition to a far forward jaw, a rather irregular set of teeth and a flat throat, articulation in the direction of human language is difficult for him. Genetically, humans and chimpanzees have almost the same genes for speech motor skills. The chimpanzee is also better suited than any other species for the cognitive tendencies of human language.

In addition to this and similar phylogenetic examinations, for example, today's embryology also includes phylogenetic questions. The main question in this area is whether the development of an individual organism can be understood as a reflection of the tribal history. In this context, structures such as the pharyngeal arches of the human embryo play a role, which from a phylogenetic point of view probably correspond to relics of features of the ancestral ancestors and could thus be compared, for example, with the gills of fish.

Causal links between phylogeny and ontogeny are a relevant research area in embryology. In this area of ​​research, phylogenesis examines, for example, the question of whether genetic control and development genes or embryonic formation principles and mechanisms can be understood as the central point of attack for mechanisms of evolution or species change.

Illnesses & ailments

Basically, individuals with an ontogeny with strong deviations from the phylogeny mostly suffer from a disease. Phylogenetic examinations sometimes also take place in relation to certain diseases themselves and in this case try to understand the history of a certain disease in a given species and the possible adaptations of the species resulting from it. An example of a disease for which phylogenetic studies exist is the HIV virus. The phylogenetic analysis of the viral disease suggests that the HIV virus passed from an animal, such as a monkey, to a human individual three times, or even more than three times, completely independently of one another. Using the molecular clock 2, a time frame between 1930 and 1940 can be determined, with Africa appearing as the original country. These conclusions could be made by reconstructing the phylogeneses of different variants of the HIV virus.

Diseases of any kind are examined for their history in the human species using a phylogenetic analysis. If there is a long history of certain diseases in a given strain, for example, the host and germ adapt more and more to one another.

Phylogenetic considerations have become the focus of research not only on diseases, but also on human body processes such as coughing. In this case, phylogenesis proves that the vital functions of swallowing, vomiting and breathing in all vertebrates had to be protected by reflexes due to the gill gut, since they can easily be mixed up by the anatomical structures. Fish spit disruptive particles or inedible items from the gill basket by means of a strong contraction of the pharynx muscle through the mouth. Terrestrial vertebrates have a separation of the functions of coughing and spitting. The lungs and throat of these living beings are cleared of particles by coughing. The esophagus and stomach, on the other hand, rely on spitting. Land critters clean their noses by sneezing.