Phylogeny (noun)

1. The evolutionary history and development of a species or group, especially in terms of physical characteristics, ancestry, and distribution.
2. The study of the evolutionary relationships between species or groups, including the relationships of common ancestry and the branching of lineages over time.

Origin:

From greek phylon 'tribe, race' + -geny 'production, origin', from gignesthai 'to be born'.

Examples:

1. The phylogeny of the species was carefully reconstructed by the evolutionary biologist, using DNA analysis and other tools to trace the species' ancestry and relationships.
2. The phylogeny of the primates was a complex and ever-evolving field, as new data and techniques continued to shed light on the relationships between different species of primates.
3. The phylogeny of the birds was a well-established field, with a rich history of research and discovery that dated back to the earliest days of evolutionary biology.
4. The phylogeny of the dinosaurs was a topic of great interest and fascination, as scientists attempted to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between different species of these ancient creatures.
5. The phylogeny of the plants was an important area of study, providing insights into the evolution and diversity of life on earth and the relationships between different species and families of plants.