# Evolution > Study of biological evolution, natural selection, speciation, and phylogenetics - Skill: `ffsshhttiikk/evolution-2` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add ffsshhttiikk/evolution-2` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/ffsshhttiikk/evolution-2/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: ffsshhttiikk (https://skillmd.com/u/ffsshhttiikk) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/ffsshhttiikk/evolution-2 --- # Evolution ## What I Do Evolutionary biology studies the origin and descent of species, natural selection, and the processes that generate biological diversity. I cover natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, speciation, phylogenetics, and evolutionary genetics. I help analyze phylogenetic relationships, calculate selection pressures, and understand adaptation. ## When to Use Me - Building and interpreting phylogenetic trees - Calculating natural selection and dN/dS ratios - Understanding mechanisms of speciation - Analyzing population genetic variation - Studying adaptive evolution and convergence - Dating evolutionary events (molecular clocks) - Understanding coevolution and host-pathogen dynamics ## Core Concepts 1. **Natural Selection**: Directional, stabilizing, disruptive selection 2. **Genetic Drift**: Founder effect, bottleneck, random sampling 3. **Gene Flow**: Migration, admixture, population structure 4. **Mutation**: Source of genetic variation, mutation rates 5. **Speciation**: Allopatric, sympatric, parapatric mechanisms 6. **Phylogenetics**: Clades, monophyly, parsimony, likelihood methods 7. **Molecular Evolution**: dN/dS, positive selection, purifying selection 8. **Adaptive Radiation**: Ecological opportunity, character displacement 9. **Coevolution**: Predator-prey, host-parasite, mutualistic arms races 10. **Molecular Clock**: Mutation rate calibration, divergence dating ## Code Examples ```python import numpy as np from typing import List, Dict, Tuple from collections import Counter class NaturalSelection: def __init__(self, species: str): self.species = species def calculate_fitness(self, phenotype_value: float, optimum: float, omega: float) -> float: return np.exp(-0.5 * ((phenotype_value - optimum) / omega)**2) def directional_selection_gradient(self, mean_phenotype: float, optimum: float, heritability: float, selection_strength: float) -> float: return heritability * selection_strength * (optimum - mean_phenotype) def calculate_response_to_selection(self, s: float, h2: float) -> float: R = s * h2 # Breeder's equation return R def equilibrium_allele_frequency(self, s: float, h: float) -> float: return s / (s + h * s) # Approximate for recessive deleterious allele def fixation_probability(self, initial_freq: float, selection_coefficient: float, population_size: int) -> float: if selection_coefficient == 0: return initial_freq s = selection_coefficient N = population_size return (1 - np.exp(-2 * s * N * initial_freq)) / \ (1 - np.exp(-4 * s * N)) class Phylogenetics: def __init__(self, alignment_file: str): self.alignment_file = alignment_file def calculate_pairwise_distance(self, seq1: str, seq2: str) -> float: mismatches = sum(1 for a, b in zip(seq1, seq2) if a != b) return mismatches / len(seq1) def calculate_kimura_distance(self, transitions: int, transversions: int, sites: int) -> float: K = -0.5 * np.log(1 - 2*P - Q) - 0.25 * np.log(1 - 2*Q) P = transitions / sites Q = transversions / sites return K def upgma_clustering(self, distances: Dict[Tuple, float]) -> Dict: clusters = {i: [i] for i in range(len(distances))} current_distances = distances.copy() tree = {} while len(clusters) > 1: min_pair = min(current_distances.keys(), key=lambda x: current_distances[x]) cluster1, cluster2 = min_pair distance = current_distances[min_pair] new_cluster = f"node_{len(clusters)}" tree[new_cluster] = { 'children': [cluster1, cluster2], 'distance': distance / 2 } clusters[new_cluster] = clusters[cluster1] + clusters[cluster2] del clusters[cluster1] del clusters[cluster2] return tree def calculate_divergence_time(self, d: float, mutation_rate: float) -> float: return d / (2 * mutation_rate) # MYA (millions years ago) def likelihood_ratio_test(self, null_likelihood: float, alt_likelihood: float) -> float: lr = 2 * (alt_likelihood - null_likelihood) df = 1 # Typically df=1 for nested models p_value = 1 - stats.chi2.cdf(lr, df) return {'test_statistic': lr, 'p_value': p_value} class MolecularEvolution: def __init__(self, gene_name: str): self.gene_name = gene_name def calculate_dn_ds(self, dn: float, ds: float) -> float: return dn / ds if ds > 0 else float('inf') def calculate_synonymous_sites(self, sequence: str) -> int: codon_table = { 'TTT': 1, 'TTC': 1, 'TTA': 0, 'TTG': 0, 'TCT': 1, 'TCC': 1, 'TCA': 1, 'TCG': 1, 'TAT': 0, 'TAC': 0, 'TAA': 0, 'TAG': 0, 'TGT': 0, 'TGC': 0, 'TGA': 0, 'TGG': 0, 'CTT': 1, 'CTC': 1, 'CTA': 1, 'CTG': 1, 'CCT': 1, 'CCC': 1, 'CCA': 1, 'CCG': 1, 'CAT': 0, 'CAC': 0, 'CAA': 0, 'CAG': 0, 'CGT': 1, 'CGC': 1, 'CGA': 1, 'CGG': 1, 'ATT': 1, 'ATC': 1, 'ATA': 1, 'ATG': 0, 'ACT': 1, 'ACC': 1, 'ACA': 1, 'ACG': 1, 'AAT': 0, 'AAC': 0, 'AAA': 0, 'AAG': 0, 'AGT': 1, 'AGC': 1, 'AGA': 0, 'AGG': 0, 'GTT': 1, 'GTC': 1, 'GTA': 1, 'GTG': 1, 'GCT': 1, 'GCC': 1, 'GCA': 1, 'GCG': 1, 'GAT': 0, 'GAC': 0, 'GAA': 0, 'GAG': 0, 'GGT': 1, 'GGC': 1, 'GGA': 1, 'GGG': 1 } syn_sites = 0 for i in range(0, len(sequence), 3): codon = sequence[i:i+3] if len(codon) == 3: syn_sites += codon_table.get(codon, 0) return syn_sites def site_positive_selection(self, omega: float) -> str: if omega > 1: return "positive_selection" elif omega < 1: return "purifying_selection" return "neutral" selection = NaturalSelection("DarwinFinches") fitness = selection.calculate_fitness(12.5, optimum=12.0, omega=2.0) print(f"Fitness: {fitness:.3f}") phylo = Phylogenetics("mitochondrial.fasta") dist = phylo.calculate_pairwise_distance("ATCGATCG", "ATCGATTA") print(f"Distance: {dist:.4f}") ``` ## Best Practices 1. Use appropriate molecular clock calibration points 2. Account for rate heterogeneity among sites and lineages 3. Validate phylogenetic methods with known relationships 4. Consider substitution model complexity vs. data support 5. Use proper outgroups for root placement 6. Apply bootstrap resampling for clade support 7. Consider population structure in evolutionary analysis 8. Distinguish between orthologs and paralogs in gene trees 9. Use multiple methods to test for selection 10. Consider fossil evidence for divergence dating