Phylogeny & Taxonomy

Question 1

Taxonomy is…

Answer 1

The process of classifying, identifying, and naming organisms based on certain traits

Question 2

Phylogeny is…

Answer 2

The science that studies how species are related through evolution.

Question 3

Clades are:

Answer 3

a taxonomic group that includes a single ancestor species and all its descendants

Question 4

How are taxonomy and phylogeny similar?

Answer 4

They both involve classification

Question 5

How are taxonomy and phylogeny different?

Answer 5

-Taxonomy groups on a shared trait

-Phylogony groups on evolutionary relationship

Question 6

Cladograms:

Answer 6

Diagrams showing how groups are related and how they developed.

Question 7

Cladistics:

Answer 7

A method that compares new traits in species to determine how they are related evolutionarily.

Question 8

Derived Trait:

Answer 8

a recently evolved trait

Question 9

Synapomorphy:

Answer 9

A new trait shared by two or more species. Species with this trait are closely related.

Question 10

example of Synapomorphies

Answer 10

-All birds have feathers and are more closely related to each other than to featherless reptiles

-most mammals have hair, differentiating from other vertebrates (except whales, which lost their hair)