Chapter 26: Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to phylogeny and taxonomy in biology.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history of a species or group of species.

Taxonomy

The naming and grouping of organisms.

Systematics

The science of figuring out relationships between organisms.

Clade

A special group that includes an ancestor and all its descendants.

Taxon

Any named group, such as Mammalia or Panthera.

Binomial Nomenclature

A two-part naming system that consists of genus name and species epithet.

Homology

Phenotypic and genetic similarities due to shared ancestry.

Analogy

Similarities between organisms that arise from convergent evolution.

Morphology

The study of the form and structure of organisms.

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth.

Linnaean Classification

A hierarchical system for categorizing organisms, from Domain to Species.

Evolutionary Relationships

Connections between organisms based on their evolutionary history.