Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on phylogeny and classification.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history of a species or group of species.

Taxonomy

The naming and grouping of organisms.

Clade

A special group — an ancestor plus all its descendants.

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth.

Binomial Nomenclature

A two-part naming system that includes the genus (capitalized) and species epithet (lowercase).

Linnaean Classification

A hierarchical system for classifying organisms, grouping species into Domains, Kingdoms, Phylums, Classes, Orders, Families, Genera, and Species.

Morphology

The study of the form and structure of organisms, which reveals deeper differences than just appearance.

Homology

Phenotypic and genetic similarities due to shared ancestry.

Analogy

Similarities between organisms that are due to convergent evolution rather than shared ancestry.

Sister Taxa

Groups of organisms that share a common ancestor that is not shared by any other group.

Common Ancestor

An ancestral population from which all other species in a phylogenetic tree descend.

Cladistics

A method of classification based on common ancestry and branching patterns.

Extremophiles

Organisms that thrive in extreme environmental conditions, often classified under Archaea.

Molecular Data

Information derived from DNA, RNA, or protein sequences used in phylogenetic analysis.

Nested Hierarchy

A classification system where categories are ranked in decreasing inclusivity.