Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is an autapomorphy?
What is an autapomorphy?
- A shared derived character
- A distinctive feature unique to a given taxon (correct)
- An ancestral trait
- A character shared by a set of species
What is an apomorphy?
What is an apomorphy?
A characteristic that is different from the form of an ancestor, used in determining membership in a clade.
What is a synapomorphy?
What is a synapomorphy?
A shared derived character that distinguishes a clade from other organisms.
What defines a plesiomorphy?
What defines a plesiomorphy?
What is homoplasy?
What is homoplasy?
What is the definition of symplesiomorphy?
What is the definition of symplesiomorphy?
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Study Notes
Autapomorphy and Related Terms
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Autapomorphy: A derived trait unique to a specific taxon, providing a distinctive feature for identification.
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Apomorphy: Reflects a change from the ancestral form, an innovation critical for determining clade membership.
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Synapomorphy: A shared derived trait that differentiates a clade from other organisms, essential for phylogenetic classification.
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Plesiomorphy: An evolutionary trait homologous within a group but not unique, limiting its utility for defining the group's characteristics.
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Homoplasy: Traits that appear similar across species but arise from different evolutionary paths, highlighting characteristics that are not inherited from a common ancestor.
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Symplesiomorphy: An ancestral trait shared among modern groups, often less useful for assessing recent evolutionary relationships due to its ancient origins.
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