In bioinformatics, neighbor-joining is a bottom-up clustering method used for the construction of phylogenetic trees. Usually used for trees based on DNA or protein sequence data, the algorithm requires knowledge of the distance between each pair of taxa (e.g. species or sequences) in the tree.

The algorithm

Neighbor-joining is an iterative algorithm. Each iteration consists of the following steps:

  1. Based on the current distance matrix calculate the matrix Q (explained below).
  2. Find the pair of taxa in Q with the lowest value. Create a node on the tree that joins these two taxa (i.e. join the closest neighbors, as the algorithm name implies).
  3. Calculate the distance of each of the taxa in the pair to this new node.
  4. Calculate the distance of all taxa outside of this pair to the new node.
  5. Start the algorithm again, considering the pair of joined neighbors as a single taxon and using the distances calculated in the previous step.

The Q-matrix

Based on a distance matrix relating r taxa, calculate Q as follows:

d(i,j) is the distance between taxa i and j.

For example, if we have four taxa (A, B, C, D) and the following distance matrix:

A B C D A — — — — B 7 — — — C 11 6 — — D 14 9 7 —

We obtain the following values for the Q matrix:

A B C D A — — — — B −40 — — — C −34 −34 — — D −34 −34 −40 —

In the example above, two pairs of taxa have the lowest value, namely −40. We can select either of them for the second step of the algorithm. We follow the example assuming that we joined taxa A and B together.

From Wikipedia under the GNU Free Documentation License
Sat Dec 12 15:04:24 2009

how can I buy property from my parents without spending much money?
Q. My mother bought 40 acres of land in India. Neighbor wants our land but we are not willing to sell it to him. He has been bothering my parents by creating disputes such as not letting my mother demarcate the property. He is not going to let us sell it to others. He will tell lies to people who would like to buy. Someone waswilling to buy but he did not pay all the amount within 3 months as agreed. Now this neighbor joined with this purchaser to try to get my mothers land for a cheaper price. I think the neighbor is not going to give up on it. Therefore, I am suggesting my mother to sell the property to me in that way the neighbor thinks that he has no hope or he is going to give up since the property is sold to me. He cannot bother my… [cont.]
Asked by INVENTOR - Sat Sep 30 23:11:17 2006 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. have someone to write you a fake land contract,have put on it that you bought the land for X amount of dollars from your parent`s.
Answered by krusty_blue_spaz - Sat Sep 30 23:25:41 2006

what is mean by bootstrap and random seed when construct phylogenic tree. i use MEGA 4 to construct?
Q. neighbor joining tree
Asked by teck kim - Mon Jun 30 08:22:57 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Here is a link where you can get the answer what a bootstrap is...please click to get more- Phylogenetic analysis and phylogenic tree read about bootstrap some more description- to get click here ___ random seed 1. BSCI 380 Laboratory As the name "Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony" suggests, paup's default ... it is very important that you provide a unique random number seed for each ... 2.BSCI 380 Laboratory As the name "Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony" suggests, paup's default ... that you provide a unique random number seed for each distinct random analysis. ... 3.Relationships among seed plants inferred from highly conserved ... ... number random seed, each specified to run five bootstrap ... Crane P. R. [cont.]
Answered by Sand - Thu Jul 3 15:05:06 2008

What can I do about my neighbors who drink outside their garage with their bright neon light?
Q. So, I have these neighbors who use their fold out chairs to sit and drink beer outside their driveway every other day!, and their garage door remains open all day long...with a messy garage and neon lights that hang on the wall. They are very nosy and everytime my husband and I are outside they stare and are very nosy about what is going on at our house. I have caught the man of the house staring from his bedroom window over at our place when I am cleaning outside or have company. They make the neighborhood look trashy! and are starting to have another neighbor join them in the drunk fest...Worst of all I feel we have no privacy when we are in our front yard. I don't want to have a confrintation with them but, they are really intrusive...… [cont.]
Asked by PasserBy - Wed Oct 29 05:03:05 2008 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Do you have deed restrictions for your neighborhood? There would have been a form with all the rules you were given and had to sign when you bought your property. Other than that, you may have to cover or paint over your windows just to get some privacy. Or - purchase the heavy drapes that block 100% of the light and close them when you don't want to be observed. Find out in the city regulations if there is a noise level limit required by law, and if it is more after a certain time of the evening. Report them.
Answered by carolathome2099 - Thu Oct 30 00:19:50 2008

From Yahoo Answer Search: "Neighbor-joining"
Tue May 12 05:33:35 2009