Phylogenies & the History of Life Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about phylogenies and the history of life.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history and relationships of an organism to other organisms.

Rooted Phylogenetic Tree

A phylogenetic tree based in representing a common ancestor.

Unrooted Phylogenetic Tree

A phylogenetic tree that does not represent common ancestry.

Systematics

The branch of science that organizes organisms based on their evolutionary relationships.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying organisms to construct internationally shared classification systems.

Morphological Homology

Organisms that share similar physical features and genomes are more closely related than those who do not.

Analogy / Homoplasy

Similar traits due to similar environmental pressures

Analogous traits

Similar function

Homologous traits

Similar embryonic origin

Molecular Systematics

Uses DNA information to uncover missed relationships & correct incorrect assumptions

Cladistics

Groups of organisms that descend from a common ancestor

Transformation

bacteria takes up naked DNA

Transduction

a virus transfers the genes

Conjugation

a hollow tube, or pilus transfers genes between organisms

Genome Fusion

When two symbiotic organisms become endosymbiotic - one takes the other into itself.

Endosymbiont Theory

Mitochondria and chloroplasts

Phylogenetic Tree

A diagram used to reflect evolutionary relationships among organisms or groups of organisms.

Branch Point

Represents where a split in the phylogenetic tree occurred; a single lineage evolved into a distinct new one.

Taxonomic Classification System

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Phylogenetic Tree Uses

Learning about evolution; understanding the spread of diseases; organizing biodiversity.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

The introduction of genetic material from one species to another species by mechanisms other than the vertical transmission from parent(s) to offspring.

Gene Transfer Examples

Transformation, transduction, and conjugation

Ring of Life

A phylogenetic model where all three domains of life evolved from a pool of primitive prokaryotes.

Web or Net of Life

A model that attempts to incorporate horizontal gene transfer and genome fusion.