 If we think of phylogenetic inference as an instance of statistical inference more generally, then likelihood and Bayesian methods spring to mind as methods that exemplify more general, statistical paradigms. Both require calculating probabilities and thus will require models of evolutionary change i.e., some description of the process of evolution and assignment of probabilities to possible changes in character states (such as from one nucleotide to another). Let’s briefly walk through what that means, as how and whether to incorporate models of evolution in phylogenetic inference has been a major topic of debate.