Phylogenetic Tree

Question 1

Phylogeny

Answer 1

Evolutionary history of a group of organisms

Question 2

Phylogenetic Tree

Answer 2

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationship between different species, organisms, or genes

Question 3

Taxon(taxa)

Answer 3

Any named group of organisms

Question 4

Clade

Answer 4

Nested groups that include common ancestor

Question 5

Common Ancestor(MRCA)

Answer 5

Last common ancestor, inferred from last divergence(node)

Question 6

Root

Answer 6

Base of the tree, represents ancestral lineage

Question 7

Node

Answer 7

Branch point; where lineages diverge

Question 8

Tips

Answer 8

Descendant taxa

Question 9

Characters

Answer 9

Traits in common because they were inherited from common ancestors
Ex: morphological structures, DNA sequences, chromosomes numbers, behavior, chemical compounds

Question 10

Apomorphy

Answer 10

Derived traits unique to the clade; distinguishes from ancestors

Question 11

Synapomorphy

Answer 11

Apomorphy that is shared by multiple taxa as a result of shared ancestry
(Shared state among 2+ taxa)

Question 12

Autapomorphy

Answer 12

Unique state for 1 taxon

Question 13

Plesiomorphy

Answer 13

Ancestral state(if in 2+ taxa = symplesiomorphy)

Question 14

Monophyletic (natural clade)

Answer 14

Group that include common ancestor + all descendants

Question 15

Paraphyletic groups

Answer 15

Group that includes common ancestor + some descendants (excludes some descendants)

Question 16

Polyphyletic group

Answer 16

Group that include some descendants (excludes common ancestor and some descendants)

Question 17

Sister taxa

Answer 17

Taxas in the same clade and shares the latest MRCA

Question 18

Homology

Answer 18

Similarity due to common ancestry

Question 19

Homoplasy

Answer 19

Similarity due to independent evolution of a character state; not from a common ancestor

Question 20

Convergence

Answer 20

Independent evolution of a similar ancestor

Question 21

Reversal

Answer 21

Loss of a derived character state

Question 22

Congruence

Answer 22

A measure of how similar genetic sequences are, and can indicate how closely related organisms are to each

Question 23

Basal

Answer 23

Outgroup

Question 24

Cladogenesis

Answer 24

Splitting of ancestral lineage into descendants lineages, thus forming a clade