Week 14

Question 1

What is a phylogenetic tree or cladogram?

Answer 1

representation of the postulated evolutionary relationships among groups of named organisms

Question 2

What is the purpose of phylogenetic trees?

Answer 2

To convey evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms (order of branching)

Question 3

Compare homology to homoplasy.

Answer 3

Homology– derived character state, observed in >/= 2 species due to common ancestry

Homoplasy– possession of similar/identical character state by two or more species that has not been derived from a common ancestor (convergence, parallel evolution, evolutionary reversal)

Question 4

Only ___________ (similarities due to uniquely derived character states) provide useful cladistic evidence.

Answer 4

synapomorphies

Question 5

Define parisomy

Answer 5

the simplest explanation, requiring the fewest undocumented assumptions in phylogenetic trees.