Phylogenetic Distance Calculator to Measure Evol...
Calculate evolutionary distances between DNA or protein sequences. Understand Hamming distance, Jukes-Cantor correction, and how phylogenetic trees are built.
What is Phylogenetic Distance?
Phylogenetic distance measures the evolutionary divergence between two biological sequences (DNA or protein). It estimates how many mutations have accumulated since they shared a common ancestor. These distances are used to build phylogenetic trees showing evolutionary relationships.
🌳 Phylogenetic Distance Calculator
Free calculator for instant results.
📐 Formula
d = −¾ ln(1 − (4/3)p)
Jukes-Cantor one-parameter model. p = observed proportion of different sites (Hamming distance / sequence length). Corrects for multiple substitutions at same site.
📝 Worked Example
Two DNA sequences of 100 bp, 20 differences:
p = 20/100 = 0.2
d = −¾ ln(1 − (4/3)×0.2) = −0.75 × ln(0.733) = 0.232 substitutions/site
📝 How to Use
❓ FAQ
Why correct for multiple substitutions?
The same site may mutate multiple times. Raw differences underestimate true evolutionary distance. Correction models account for hidden substitutions.
How are phylogenetic trees built from distances?
Methods like UPGMA and Neighbor-Joining cluster sequences by distance into hierarchical trees showing branching order and divergence time.
Veer Kumavat
Founder & AuthorVeer is a 14-year-old student from Nashik, Maharashtra, who built SciFi Calculators to help students worldwide master STEM subjects. He is passionate about making complex science and math problems accessible through intuitive digital tools.