final int node2Size = node2.getChildren().size();
final int childNodeCount = Math.max(node1Size, node2Size);
for (int i = 0; i < childNodeCount; i++) {
if (i < node1Size && i < node2Size) {
final TreeGenomeNode childNode1 = node1.getChildren().get(i);
final TreeGenomeNode childNode2 = node2.getChildren().get(i);
newResult = compareNode(newResult, childNode1, childNode2);
} else {
newResult++;
}
}