clade program

[Jim Taylor]

Hi, Folks.

I read the other day about a  computer program used to determine the degree
to which
species, genera, etc., are related to each other employing the principle of
"parsimony. " The name suggests a comparison of characteristics of the
critters under study with those sharing the most being the most closely
related. One could do this readily with a
simple spread sheet program, I suppose, but the idea of a program written
specifically to that purpose is intriguing.

I should like to look into this further.  Anyone know of this program, and
how I might obtain a copy for study?  Anyone have an opinion on the veracity
of the results so obtained (can't be as good as DNA)? How would one go about
choosing the most meaningful characteristics for comparison? How would one
weight the characteristics so chosen?

Comments appreciated.

Jim Taylor