Evolutionary Patterns Flashcards
analogy (analogous)
characteristic that is similar between organisms by convergent evolution, not due to the same evolutionary path
binomial nomenclature
system of two-part scientific names for an organism, which includes genus and species names
character
any observable feature, or trait, of an organism, whether acquired or inherited
character state
mutually exclusive features among taxa of a single paralog-equivalent assemblage that exhibit orthologous relationships to each other
cladistics
system to organize homologous traits to describe phylogenies
class
division of phylum in the taxonomic classification system
domain
the highest taxonomic rank in the hierarchical biological classification system, above the kingdom level
family
division of order in the taxonomic classification system
genus
division of family in the taxonomic classification system; the first part of the binomial scientific name
geologic timescale
divides up the history of the earth based on life-forms that have existed during specific times since the creation of the planet
homology (homologous)
similarity in characteristics resulting from a shared ancestry
ingroup
the group of living organisms whose relationships are being considered in a cladogram
kingdom
domain division in the taxonomic classification system
mass extinction
when species vanish much faster than they are replaced
maximum parsimony
applying the simplest, most obvious way with the least number of steps
monophyletic group
organisms that share a single ancestor
node (branch point)
the points at the ends of branches which represent sequences or hypothetical sequences at various points in evolutionary history
order
class division in the taxonomic classification system
outgroup
evolutionary term used to denote a taxa or lineage that is outside a group of taxa being studied
phylogenetic tree
diagram that reflects the evolutionary relationships among organisms or groups of organisms
phylogeny
evolutionary history and relationship of an organism or group of organisms
phylum
kingdom division in the taxonomic classification system
polytomy
branch on a phylogenetic tree with more than two groups or taxa
rooted
single ancestral lineage on a phylogenetic tree to which all organisms represented in the diagram relate
shared ancestral character
describes a characteristic on a phylogenetic tree that all organisms on the tree share
shared derived character
describes a characteristic on a phylogenetic tree that only a certain clade of organisms share
sister taxa
two lineages that diverged from the same branch point
systematic
field of organizing and classifying organisms based on evolutionary relationships
taxon
single level in the taxonomic classification system
taxonomy
science of classifying organisms
