Final answer:
The described process is part of building a rooted phylogenetic tree in evolutionary biology to infer the relationships between taxa using the principle of maximum parsimony.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of picking the two taxa that are farthest away and putting the root halfway in between is related to evolutionary biology and is part of constructing a rooted phylogenetic tree. In this context, the root represents the most recent common ancestor of all taxa on the tree. Scientists use methods like maximum parsimony to infer evolutionary relationships and construct these trees, choosing the simplest explanation or pathway that requires the fewest evolutionary changes. By selecting the two most distinct taxa and rooting the tree in the middle, scientists can build a framework for understanding the divergence and speciation of lineages, such as the cases of allopatric speciation through dispersal and vicariance.