TimeTree 5: An Expanded Resource for Species Divergence Times

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• The TimeTree of Life project synthesizes molecular timetrees to provide accessible evolutionary knowledge.
• Previous editions have laid the groundwork for comprehensive evolutionary data compilation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the fifth edition of the TimeTree of Life resource (TToL5).
• To enhance accessibility and utility of evolutionary data for researchers and the public.
• To expand the scope and accuracy of species divergence time information.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of published molecular timetrees.
• Development of a web portal for data retrieval and visualization.
• Implementation of an API for programmatic access to divergence times and timelines.
• Source code refactoring for ADA compliance and mobile-friendliness.

Main Results:

• TToL5 includes divergence time information for 137,306 species, a 41% increase from the previous edition.
• The TToL5 web interface is now ADA-compliant and mobile-friendly.
• Programmatic access to data is available via a new API.

Conclusions:

• TToL5 represents a significant advancement in making evolutionary knowledge accessible.
• The expanded dataset and improved interface facilitate broader research applications.
• The resource serves as a valuable tool for understanding the timeline of life.