phylogenetics

Build phylogenetic trees from sequence alignments using MAFFT, IQ-TREE 2, and ETE3.

4|Updated Mar 2, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/shushuzn/Rairos --skill phylogenetics-shushuzn
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: phylogenetics
Source: https://github.com/shushuzn/Rairos/tree/main/skills/phylogenetics
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/shushuzn/Rairos --skill phylogenetics-shushuzn

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires subprocess, argparse, sys, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps you reconstruct phylogenetic relationships by turning raw nucleotide or protein sequence data into multiple sequence alignments, maximum-likelihood trees, and visualizations you can interpret.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • MAFFT alignment: Build multiple sequence alignments using dataset-appropriate modes for accuracy and speed.
  • IQ-TREE 2 maximum likelihood inference: Infer best-fit evolutionary trees with model selection, ultrafast bootstrap support, and optional dating workflows (via date inputs).
  • FastTree for large datasets: Produce fast approximate trees when datasets are too large for full IQ-TREE runs.
  • Tree analysis & visualization: Compute basic tree statistics, root trees (midpoint or outgroup when available), and render publication-ready figures using ETE3.

Quick Start

Run the provided phylogenetic analysis script on your FASTA file by invoking: python phylogenetic_analysis.py sequences.fasta --type nt --threads 4.

Frequently Asked Questions about phylogenetics

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I build a phylogenetic tree from a FASTA sequence file?

To build a phylogenetic tree from a FASTA file, run the phylogenetic analysis script with your sequences, specifying the sequence type and threads. The workflow uses MAFFT for alignment and IQ-TREE 2 for maximum likelihood tree inference.

What is the best way to infer evolutionary trees for large datasets?

For large datasets, FastTree produces fast approximate phylogenetic trees when full maximum likelihood runs become too computationally expensive. This provides a faster alternative to IQ-TREE 2 for large-scale sequence analysis.

How do I visualize and root a Newick tree output?

You can visualize and root Newick tree outputs using ETE3, which loads the tree files, applies midpoint or outgroup rooting, computes basic tree statistics, and renders publication-ready figures.

Can I use IQ-TREE 2 model selection and bootstrapping for microbial genomics?

Yes, IQ-TREE 2 supports microbial genomics by inferring best-fit evolutionary trees with built-in model selection and ultrafast bootstrap support to validate phylogenetic relationships.

Do I need MAFFT to perform multiple sequence alignment before tree inference?

Yes, MAFFT is required to build multiple sequence alignments from raw nucleotide or protein sequence data before passing the aligned sequences to IQ-TREE 2 or FastTree for tree inference.

Does this workflow support molecular clock dating with sequence data?

Yes, the IQ-TREE 2 inference step supports optional molecular clock dating workflows by providing date inputs alongside your sequence alignment to estimate evolutionary timelines.