Antecedent (genealogy)

In genealogy and in phylogenetic studies of evolutionary biology, antecedents or antecessors are predecessors in a family line. For example, one is the descendant of their grandparents, who are one's antecedents. This term has particular utility in evolutionary coalescent theory, which models the process of genetic drift in reverse time.^[1]

The antonym of antecedent is descendant.

^ Harding, Rosalind, M. (1998), "New phylogenies: an introductory look at the coalescent.", in Nee, S (ed.), New uses for new phylogenies, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-854984-9{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[1] Harding, Rosalind, M. (1998), "New phylogenies: an introductory look at the coalescent.", in Nee, S (ed.), New uses for new phylogenies, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-854984-9{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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