Lecture 7

Question 1

Phylogeny

Answer 1

Evolutionary history of a group of organisms

-Closely related groups will share many characteristics

Question 2

Homology

Answer 2

When traits are similar due to shared ancestry (homologous traits)

Question 3

Homoplasy

Answer 3

When traits are similar for reasons other than common ancestry (analogous traits)

Question 4

Convergent Evolution

Answer 4

Natural Selection favors similar solutions to the problems posed by a similar way of making a living; which leads to analogous traits–not useful for constructing phylogenies

Question 5

Homologous Traits

Answer 5

Useful for constructing evolutionary relationships

Question 6

Principle of parsimony

Answer 6

The most likely explanation or pattern is the one that implies the least amount of change (evolutionary event=loss or gain of a trait)

Question 7

Synapomorphy

Answer 7

Trait that certain groups of organisms have that exists in no others; shared derived trait in their most recent common ancestor but missing in their most distant ancestor