The Tree of Life

Question 1

What is primitive similarity?

Answer 1

Single origin in distant ancestor

Question 2

What is convergent similarity?

Answer 2

Independent origins

Analogous structures, not from common ancestors

Question 3

What is derived similarity?

Answer 3

Single origin in relatively recent common ancestor
Implies a close relationship
Homologous structures

Question 4

What does plesiomorphic mean?

Answer 4

Primitive

Question 5

What does apomorphic mean?

Answer 5

Derived

Question 6

What is a monophyletic group?

Answer 6

Recent unique common ancestor
All descendants
Derived similarities

Question 7

What is a paraphyletic group?

Answer 7

Distant unique common ancestor
Some descendants
Primitive similarity

Question 8

What is a polyphletic group?

Answer 8

No unique common ancestor

Convergent similarity

Question 9

What is outgroup criterion?

Answer 9

Comparison with distantly related species believed to have plesiomorphic traits

Question 10

What is ontogentic criterion?

Answer 10

Traits appearing earlier in development assumed to be plesiomorphic