[02653] Random generation of Phylogenetic networks
Session Time & Room : 2C (Aug.22, 13:20-15:00) @G301
Type : Contributed Talk
Abstract : Phylogenetic networks are complex structures used to represent evolutionary histories with reticulate events. Random generation of such networks is a fundamental problem in phylogenetics, as it allows for the exploration of the space of possible networks and can provide insights into the properties of the space. In this paper, we present a new algorithm for the random generation of phylogenetic networks with Boltzmann sampling. The algorithm uses a probabilistic model based on the decomposition of a network into smaller subnetworks, which are then sampled independently. The Boltzmann factor is used to control the frequency of the different subnetwork types in the generated network ensemble. We show that our algorithm is efficient, accurate and can generate diverse sets of networks with different properties. Our algorithm is expected to be useful in various applications, such as testing the performance of phylogenetic methods, exploring the space of evolutionary histories, and simulating reticulation events in biological systems.
