Tree of life

We're all Homo here Evolution

Relevant Hominids

Charles Darwin Alfred Russel Wallace Gregor Mendel Richard Dawkins Jerry Coyne

A Gradual Science

Evobabble Amphistium and Heteronectes River Out of Eden Lungfish

Plain Monkey Business

Young Earth Creationism Old Earth Creationism Intelligent Design Microevolution vs. Macroevolution v - t - e

The tree of life is a metaphor that has different meanings depending upon the forum in which it is discussed:

In science

The circular Hillis plot Tree of Life, using genetic knowledge as of 2006. The bit from 12:00 to 9:00 is bacteria, 9:00 to 10:00 is archaea and 10:00 to 12:00 is eukaryota.

It refers to the visual representation of the phylogenetic relationships between life due to evolution and common descent. While the construction can be created in multiple patterns the most common form is a vertical branching structure that resembles a tree. One problem with this representation is its connotation or implication of teleological progress. A popular current version, the Hillis plot, uses a circular tree with current species at the circumference.

It is also slightly wrong. Organisms, especially simple ones, can rarely acquire genes from other species, even from entirely different kingdoms, via a process known as Horizontal gene transfer. Often they absorb DNA from the surrounding environment and incorporate it into their own genome; this allows an organism without sexual reproduction to acquire useful genes (chances are if there is a lot of a strand of DNA in the environment, it's because it's useful in said environment). This makes the bacteria and archaea portions of the tree less of a 'tree' and more of a 'tree-like web'. But it is not limited to simple organisms. Humans for example, have 145 genes that originate in bacteria, fungi and other things you wouldn't normally think of when you picture your ancestors (unless your family isn't known for hygiene).

A more complete genetic analysis of eukaryotes (organisms other than bacteria and archaea) has begun to turn up some unexpected relationships and groupings. The old Kingdoms of life would be replaced by several "supergroups": Opisthokonts, Excavates, Amoebozoa, SAR (Stramenopiles, Alveolates and Rhizaria), Archaeplastids, and some orphans. Opisthokonts include animals, fungi and some single-celled organisms. Excavates are unicellular organisms with a feeding groove; a well-known one is Giardia. Amoebozoa are mostly amorphous unicellular organisms, but also include the slime molds. Stramenopiles include algae, kelp, diatoms, and Phytophthora (which was responsible for the Irish Potato Famine). Alveolates include protists. Rhizaria are mostly unicellular and amoeba-like. Archaeplastids include plants and red and green algae, but not kelps.

In literature

It refers to a concept — similar to that in science — that all life, no matter how diverse, is interconnected.

In mythology

The Tree of Life image that appeared in Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection, 1859. It was the book's only illustration.

It refers to a symbol of immortality and/or fertility present on many cultures all around the world.

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Tree of Life appears in Genesis as a second tree, humans are intentionally prevented from eating, in order to suffer and die so that only God gets to be immortal.

“”And the Lord God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.

—Genesis 3:22

Then, by controlling supply, God has apparently formed a religion based around worshipping him and breaking the human spirit, after which only a select few will be granted the right to eat from said tree.

“”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

—Revelation 2:7

There everyone will live happily ever after, with God sitting on a throne and the saved believers being servants to him and having his name stamped on their heads.

“”Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

—Revelation 22:1-5