The Notion Of Phylogeny

Question 1

Character state:

Answer 1

Different possible conditions/variations that a particular trait or character can exhibit within a group of organisms.

Question 2

Clade:

Answer 2

Group of organisms consisting of an ancestor and all of its descendants, forming a branch on the evolution tree.

Question 3

Convergent evolution:

Answer 3

Unrelated organisms independently evolve similar traits or characteristics due to similar environmental pressures or adaptive challenges.

Question 4

Divergent evolution:

Answer 4

Two or more closely related species become increasingly different over time due to adapting to different environmental conditions or ecological niches.

Question 5

Homology:

Answer 5

Similarity between structures or traits in different organisms that arises from their common ancestry, indicating they have evolved from the same structure or trait in a common ancestor.

Question 6

Homoplasy:

Answer 6

Independent evolution of similar traits of characteristics in unrelated species usually due to similar environmental pressures or adaptive challenges rather than shared ancestry.

Question 7

Ingroup:

Answer 7

Group of organisms of species that are the primary focus of a study or analysis. These organisms are typically being compared or analyzed in relation to one another to infer evolutionary relationships, traits or patters.

Question 8

Monophyletic taxon:

Answer 8

Group of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants.

Question 9

Outgroup:

Answer 9

A group of organisms that is closely related to the ingroup (the group of organisms being studied).

Question 10

Paraphyletic group:

Answer 10

Includes a common ancestor and some, but not all, of its descendants.

Question 11

Polyphyletic group:

Answer 11

Group including multiple lineages that don’t share a common ancestor.

Question 12

Sister Tara:

Answer 12

Two groups of organisms that are each other’s closest relatives in a phylogenetic tree.