Phylotype

<p>In <a href="/facts/Taxonomy_(biology)/Qkg8wuyw">taxonomy</a>, a phylotype is an observed similarity used to classify a group of organisms by their <a href="/facts/Phenetic/aTqXrJEl">phenetic</a> relationship. This phenetic similarity, particularly in the case of <a href="/facts/Asexual_reproduction/HpovW0VS">asexual</a> organisms, may reflect the evolutionary relationships. The term is <a href="/facts/Taxonomic_rank/bPFQpe9A">rank</a>-neutral, so that phylotypes can be described at different levels, such as <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a>, <a href="/facts/Class_(biology)/a7MrgFu3">class</a>, 97% genetic similarity, or <a href="/facts/Homology_(biology)/muctKlyT">homology</a>. The term is often used in <a href="/facts/Microbiology/k7udsq81">microbiology</a>, since the <a href="/facts/Genomes/tjhWET4V">genomes</a> of <a href="/facts/Prokaryotes/oYyvaDDH">prokaryotes</a>, which freely exchange genetic material, do not lend themselves to classification via <a href="/facts/Linnean_taxonomy/DLdJDy2F">Linnean taxonomy</a> as easily as do many <a href="/facts/Eukaryotes/SkwyPLMA">eukaryotes</a> such as plants and animals.
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Phylotype open-in-new

Phylotype