Tool for finding the MRCA between two species

[EverSalazar]

We should have a tool that allows to easily find the most recent common ancestor of two species selected. In a tree with a few species is easy and if we only search for two species, it's also evident. However, in a big tree, it would be nice to have some sort of tool that allows to quickly see the MRCA of any two species selected (either by highlighting the paths or the mrca OR by removing everything else from the tree except for the two species selected (however, this would be kind of destructive)

I'm not sure what exactly needs to happen, but I'm throwing it on the air. Any ideas?

[wellcaffeinated]

Interesting.... I like the idea. Maybe stage 2...

[EverSalazar]

Yup. It seems that David also had a similar thought:

One of the coolest things we sort of do is show people the common lineage of two different species - like the blue whale and the hippo, for example. But it’s hard to know that you can search for one thing and then search for the other and the app will connect them. We should make that apparent!

[opensofias]

it doesn't have to be two species, there could be a highlight mode where you can select any number of taxa and it automatically highlights the paths between them. there could also be a button to temporarily hide everything that isn't highlighted. if there is only two taxa selected, the only other taxon shown would be the MRCA.

that being said, i personally haven't found the need for such a feature yet, but that's just me.