Podcast
Questions and Answers
What defines a derived character in cladistics?
What defines a derived character in cladistics?
- A character inherited from a MRCA, absent in an ancestor of that MRCA (correct)
- A trait that has evolved multiple times in different lineages
- A character present in all descendants of an ancestor
- A character that exhibits variation among species
Which of the following best describes homoplasy?
Which of the following best describes homoplasy?
- Shared derived characteristics among taxa
- Variations in traits across temporal scales
- Similarities due to shared ancestry
- Similar traits resulting from convergent evolution (correct)
What is the principle of parsimony in cladistics?
What is the principle of parsimony in cladistics?
- Choosing the most complex evolutionary explanation
- Assuming all traits evolve independently
- Emphasizing homoplastic characters in analysis
- Preferring the explanation with the fewest transitions (correct)
Which type of group contains all species above a given node as well as their most recent common ancestor?
Which type of group contains all species above a given node as well as their most recent common ancestor?
What characterizes a polytomy in a phylogenetic tree?
What characterizes a polytomy in a phylogenetic tree?
Which type of evolutionary relationship describes taxa that do not include all descendants of their most recent common ancestor?
Which type of evolutionary relationship describes taxa that do not include all descendants of their most recent common ancestor?
Which term refers to characteristics that are found in only a single species?
Which term refers to characteristics that are found in only a single species?
What best defines a crown group in cladistics?
What best defines a crown group in cladistics?
Flashcards
Derived Character
Derived Character
A character present in a group of organisms that evolved in their most recent common ancestor (MRCA) but not in earlier ancestors.
Homoplasy
Homoplasy
When characters appear similar in different species, but are not due to shared ancestry, instead arising from independent evolution.
Homology
Homology
Similarity in characters due to shared ancestry.
Outgroup
Outgroup
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Synapomorphy
Synapomorphy
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Parsimony Principle
Parsimony Principle
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Neticulate (Network) Evolution
Neticulate (Network) Evolution
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3-Taxon Statement
3-Taxon Statement
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