The Universal Family Tree of Life

All living things on Earth are connected through a single, massive family tree. Every organism, from humans to bacteria, shares a common ancestor deep in our planetary history.

Scientists use genetic data to map these complex evolutionary connections, tracing back billions of years. This branching diagram acts as a biological record, showing how different species split and evolved over time. While it looks like a simple chart, finding the perfect map is a monumental mathematical challenge. It is truly humbling to realize that every life form on our planet is ultimately a distant cousin.