39 Questions
What do phylogenies represent?
Evolutionary relationships
Which term refers to the most recent species that all organisms in a phylogeny descended from?
Last Common Ancestor
What does a root represent in a phylogenetic tree?
The last common ancestor of all groups in the tree
How are sister groups defined in a phylogenetic tree?
Two groups that are each other's closest relatives
What is the main focus of Linnaean classification in biology?
Organisms' taxonomic grouping
What process leads to the formation of phylogenies?
Speciation
What is the role of outgroups in constructing a phylogenetic tree?
Helping to determine the evolutionary relationships in the tree
Which method is used to choose the best solution for a phylogeny?
Parsimony
What is the concept of 'molecular clocks' primarily based on?
Constant rate of mutation accumulation
Which term describes the last female common ancestor of all living people based on mitochondrial DNA sequences?
Mitochondrial Eve
What do fossils primarily preserve?
Hard parts of organisms
How do DNA and RNA sequences contribute to constructing phylogenetic trees?
By revealing synapomorphies among species
What type of fossils occur when a dead organism leaves behind some of its biomolecules?
Molecular fossils
Which species is closely related to humans and had its full genome sequenced in 2012?
Denisovans
What type of evidence indicates that Denisovans, Neanderthals, and Humans could produce hybrid offspring?
Genetic evidence from modern humans
Which of the following provides absolute dates for divergence events and includes transitional fossils of common ancestors?
Fossil record
What can phylogenies predict about different groups?
Their common ancestors
What type of fossils mainly consists of small finger bone fragments and a few teeth in the case of Denisovans?
Transitional fossils
What are features used in constructing phylogenetic trees called?
Homologous characters
Which of the following is true about homologous characters?
They are useful for building phylogenies.
Which level of classification is NOT included in the Linnaean classification system?
Phylogenies
What is the significance of the presence or absence of characters in constructing a phylogenetic tree?
It defines groups descended from a common ancestor.
Analogous characters are useful for phylogenetic trees when:
They arise independently due to similar environments.
What taxonomic level comes between orders and genera in Linnaean classification?
Families
What system for species classification was developed in the 1700s?
Taxonomy
Which of the following accurately describes binomial nomenclature?
Species name is always capitalized
What is the most specific part of a taxonomic name like Ursus americanus?
americanus
Which method provides a way to genetically determine relatedness amongst species independently of their physical traits?
Genetic sequencing of whole genomes
What is always true about scientific names of organisms?
The species name is always capitalized
Which system defines each taxonomic level by a specific set of traits that become more specific at each level?
Taxonomy
What process involves an organism's hard tissues being replaced by rock through mineralization over time?
Petrification
How do trace fossils differ from molecular fossils?
Trace fossils are evidence of activity, while molecular fossils are chemical remains.
What is one reason for the incomplete nature of the fossil record mentioned in the text?
Not all organisms leave behind hard parts for fossilization.
In the context of the text, what do geologists learn from the unique chemical properties of rock layers?
The geological activity and environment during formation
What is one way organisms lacking hard parts can leave a fossil record, as mentioned in the text?
Through the preservation of their footprints or nests
How do plate tectonics and erosion contribute to the accessibility of fossils?
They move buried sediment layers to the surface for paleontologists.
What is one reason why the fossil record contains a small fraction of all organisms?
Not all organisms leave behind fossilizable remains.
'Mineralization preserve[s] the anatomy of the organism over very long periods of time.' What is another term for this process?
'Fossilization'
'Only a small subset of organisms are fossilized when they die.' What contributes to this fact?
'Chance' determines which organisms become fossils.
Explore the principles and methods involved in constructing phylogeny trees, including the use of outgroups and the concept of parsimony. Learn how to determine the best solution for a phylogeny by minimizing character changes. Discover how molecular data is used in building phylogenetic relationships.
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