Phylogenetic Tree

Phylogenies Definition?

A term used to describe an evolutionary history of a group of organisms

Taxon Defintion?

Group of organisms classified together as a unit based on shared characteristics

Branch

Population through time

Node (fork)

Point where tree splits

Outgroup

A group that diverged from the main study

Root

Oldest/most ancestral branch

Tip (terminal node)

End that shows present day organisms or extinct

Polytomy

A branch that splits into 3 or more descendent branches. Insufficient data can cause this.

A phylogeny tree must be as complex as possible?
True or False

False

Synapomorphies

Characteristics that are shared by that group of organisms

Monophyletic Groups

A unit that has all the ancestors and desendents but no others

Phylogeny trees prefer monophyletic
True or False

True

Polyphyletic groups

A group that is unnatural and do not share a single recent ancestor

Homoplasy

Similarities in species not through ancestry

Paraphyletic groups

A group that shares common ancestry but not all of the dependents

Phylogeny tree is based on homology?
True or False

True

Convergent evolution

Similar traits from different species, this might happen because of environment or other factors

Morphology

A study of structure and form of things

Clade

A group of organisms that share a common ancestor