Algebraic Phylogenetics

Phylogenetics is a science that aims at reconstructing the history of evolution. Phylogenetic tree models are generalizations of well-known Markov chains. In my talk I will present so-called group-based models and their relations to algebra and combinatorics. To a model of evolution one associates an algebraic variety that is the Zariski closure of points corresponding to probability distributions allowed by the model. Many important varieties arise by this construction, e.g. secant varieties of Segre products of projective spaces. It turns out that group-based models provide toric varieties. In particular, they may be studied using tools from toric geometry relating to combinatorics of lattice polytopes.