RQ18-Inferring phylogenies
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10 Terms
What is a monophyletic group?
a common ancestor and all of its descendants
What is an outgroup?
a taxon that is closely related to a monophyletic group, but not part of it
Homology and homoplasy produce similar traits. What is the key difference?
whether or not the similar traits were inherited from a common ancestor
What is a synapomorphy?
a trait that is derived from an ancestor and identifies a monophyletic group
As a principle in logic, what does parsimony mean?
the simplest explanation is preferred (more complicated explanations are less likely)
Why does convergent evolution occur?
When natural selection favors similar traits in similar environments.
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a branch represent?
a population through time
On most phylogenetic trees, what does the length of a branch represent?
nothing
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a node represent?
a splitting event (one population becomes two or more evolutionarily independent populations)
On a phylogenetic tree, what does a tip represent?
any taxon (named group)