Phylogeny

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to phylogeny and taxonomy from the lecture notes.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history of a species or group of related species.

Systematics

The scientific study that classifies organisms and determines their evolutionary relationships.

Taxonomy

The ordered division and naming of organisms.

Binomial

The two-part scientific name of a species, consisting of the genus and species.

Taxon

A taxonomic unit at any level of a hierarchy.

Homology

Phenotypic and genetic similarities due to shared ancestry.

Analogy

Similarity due to convergent evolution, not shared ancestry.

Cladistics

A method of classifying organisms based on common descent.

Clade

A group of species that includes an ancestral species and all its descendants.

Monophyletic

A group that consists of an ancestral species and all its descendants.

Paraphyletic

A group that contains a common ancestor and some, but not all, of its descendants.

Polyphyletic

A group that does not include the most recent common ancestor of the members.

Shared Derived Character

An evolutionary novelty unique to a particular clade.

Shared Ancestral Character

A character that originated in an ancestor of the taxon.