What is the difference between a short and long branch? Solution long branch is a form of systematic error whereby distantly related lineages are incorrectly inferred to be closely related. LBA arises when the amount of molecular or morphological change accumulated within a lineage is sufficient to cause that lineage to appear similar (thus closely related) to another long-branched lineage, solely because they have both undergone a large amount of change, rather than because they are related by descent. Such bias is more common when the overall divergence of some taxa results in long branches within a phylogeny. Long-branches are often attracted to the base of a phylogenetic tree, because the lineage included to represent an outgroup is often also long-branched. The frequency of true LBA is unclear and often debated. Although often viewed as a failing of parsimony-based methodology, LBA can result from a variety of scenarios Long branch effects distort maximum.

1. What is the difference between a short and long branch?
Solution
long branch is a form of systematic error whereby distantly related lineages are incorrectly
inferred to be closely related. LBA arises when the amount of molecular or morphological
change accumulated within a lineage is sufficient to cause that lineage to appear similar (thus
closely related) to another long-branched lineage, solely because they have both undergone a
large amount of change, rather than because they are related by descent. Such bias is more
common when the overall divergence of some taxa results in long branches within a phylogeny.
Long-branches are often attracted to the base of a phylogenetic tree, because the lineage included
to represent an outgroup is often also long-branched. The frequency of true LBA is unclear and
often debated. Although often viewed as a failing of parsimony-based methodology, LBA can
result from a variety of scenarios
Long branch effects distort maximum