Definitions

Question 1

What are systemics?

Answer 1

The study of diversity of organisms using evolutionary relationships and phenetics

Question 2

Biodiversity

Answer 2

Variety of organisms and the ecosystems they live in

Question 3

Taxonomy

Answer 3

Naming of organisms
Describing organisms
Classifying organisms

Question 4

Phylogeny

Answer 4

Classification based on a common ancestor, done based on structural similarities

Question 5

Homology

Answer 5

Structure derived from a recent common ancestors

Question 6

Homoplasy

Answer 6

Superficially homologous but independently acquired

Question 7

Plesiomorphic characteristics

Answer 7

Shared ancestral characteristics with a distant common ancestor

Question 8

Synapomorphic characteristics

Answer 8

Shared derived characteristics with a more recent common ancestor (the two are relative depending on the taxonomic group)

Question 9

Molecular systemics

Answer 9

Comparing macromolecules, rRNA and mitochondrial DNA

Question 10

Molecular clocks

Answer 10

Measure the time since divergence from common ancestor by number of differences in nucleotides of protein sequences. Rate of change must be constant

Question 11

Monophyletic taxon

Answer 11

All descendent s of the most recent common ancestor

Clade

Question 12

Paraphyletic taxon

Answer 12

Common ancestor but not all descendants

Question 13

Polyphyletic taxon

Answer 13

Does not share a recent common ancestor, based on homoplasic features so I’d misrepresentative