4.3.4 classification & phylogeny

Question 1

phylogeny

Answer 1

study of evolutionary relationships between organisms

Question 2

what’s artificial classification

Answer 2

done for convenience
- based on only few characteristics
- does not reflect evolutionary relationships
- provides limited information
- is stable

Question 3

what’s natural classification

Answer 3

groups organisms based on similarities first & then identifies shared characteristics
- uses many characteristics
- reflects evolutionary relationships
- provides lots of useful info
- may change with advancing knowledge

Question 4

how can natural classification be used to make conservation more successful

Answer 4

if we want to find out more about a rare/endangered species, we can carry out research on another very similar species which isn’t endangered - this research is applicable to the other species

Question 5

phylogeny

Answer 5

study of evolutionary relationships between species

Question 6

what do all organisms ‘belong’ to

Answer 6

an evolutionary tree whereby any 2 species living today will have shared a common ancestor
–> when 2 species branch separately is when they began to evolve
–> the more recent the common ancestor, the more closely related the two species are

Question 7

what can we call gorillas/humans

Answer 7

monophyletic - belong to same phylogenetic group