Phylogeny

Question 1

Phylogeny

Answer 1

The evolutionary history of an organism, including which species are closely related and in what order related species evolved; often represented in the form of an evolutionary tree.

Question 2

Monophyletic

Answer 2

In phylogenetic classification, a group that includes the most recent common ancestor of the group and all its descendants.

Question 3

Paraphyletic

Answer 3

In phylogenetic classification, a group that includes the most recent common ancestor or the group, but not all its descendants.

Question 4

Clade

Answer 4

A monophyletic group

Question 5

Polyphyletic

Answer 5

Derived from more than one common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group and therefore not suitable for placing in the same taxon.

Question 6

Plesiomorphy

Answer 6

An ancestral or primitive character state.

Question 7

Symplesiomorphy

Answer 7

A character state shared by a number of groups, but inherited from ancestors older than the last common ancestor.

Question 8

Apomorphy

Answer 8

A derived or specialised character state.

Question 9

Autapomorphy

Answer 9

Apomorphy (derived or specialised character state) unique to one group.

Question 10

Synapomorphy

Answer 10

Apomorphy shared by two or more groups which originated in their last common ancestor. Shared derived character states in two taxonomic groups indicate that they are evolutionarily related.

Question 11

Cladistics

Answer 11

Evolutionary tree construction

Question 12

Inter-species crossing

Answer 12

Exchange of genetic material between closely related, but distinct species.

Question 13

Different rate of evolution

Answer 13

The rate of evolution for the character may differ between clades in the tree.

Question 14

Homoplasies

Answer 14

Similar character states that evolved independently = parallel evolution or convergence. Could be the result of adaptation to a similar ecological niche/environment.