Bio Phylogeny and Evolution Notes

What is phylogeny

The evolutionary history and relationship among or within species.

What is evolution?

The process through which species change over time through mechanisms such as natural selection, mutation, and genetic drift.

What is natural selection?

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

What is a phylogenetic tree?

A diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among various biological species.

What are homologous structures?

Body parts that share a common ancestry but may have different functions in the current species.

What are analogous structures?

Body parts in different species that serve similar functions but do not share a common ancestry.

VISTA

Variation, Inheritance, Selection, Time, Adaptation

Used to classify if a natural selection event has occurred

Artificial Selection

Involves human intervention where an external organism selects preferred traits.

Node

Each branching point in a phylogenetic tree. They represent common ancestors in a species.

Clade

All separate nodes and branches in a phylogenetic tree

How does a tree show a species?

The tree showcases relationships between various dog breeds by analyzing SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) in DNA to ascertain genetic relationships.

Cladogram

Shows evolutionary relationships but does not show time. All branch points are equidistant.

Phylogram

Shows evolutionary relationships and time. The branch points are different lengths to show the time.

BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE

A species name consists of two parts (ex: dogs and wolves are Canis Lupus, but the dog is specifically identified as Canis Lupus Familiaris)

Convergent Evolution

Happens when species develop similar features due to similar selective pressures, not shared ancestry.