analogy
(also, homoplasy) characteristic that is similar between organisms by convergent evolution, not due to the same evolutionary path
ancestral
the version of the character found in older ancestors (”older” version)
basal taxon
branch on a phylogenetic tree that has not diverged significantly from the root ancestor
binomial nomenclature
system of two-part scientific names for an organism, which includes genus and species names
branch point
node on a phylogenetic tree where a single lineage splits into distinct new ones
character
attributes that potentially allow its differentiation or potential differentiation from others
character state
the different conditions of a character
derived
the version found in more recent ancestors/descendants (“newer” version)
genus
division of family in the taxonomic classification system; the first part of the binomial scientific name
homology
similarity in characteristics resulting from a shared ancestry
horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
transfer of genes between unrelated species
Linnaeus, Carl
taxonomist who first developed a hierarchical model for naming species
maximum parsimony
applying the simplest, most obvious way with the least number of steps
monophyletic group
(also, clade) organisms that share a single ancestor
most recent common ancestor (MCRA)
youngest extinct common ancestor for a particular group of taxa
phylogenetic tree
diagram that reflects the evolutionary relationships among organisms or groups of organisms
phylogeny
evolutionary history and relationship of an organism or group of organisms
polytomy
branch on a phylogenetic tree with more than two groups or taxa
root
single ancestral lineage on a phylogenetic tree to which all organisms represented in the diagram relate
shared ancestral character
describes a characteristic on a phylogenetic tree that all organisms on the tree share
shared derived character
describes a characteristic on a phylogenetic tree that only a certain clade of organisms share
sister taxa
two lineages that diverged from the same branch point
systematics
field of organizing and classifying organisms based on evolutionary relationships
taxon
(plural: taxa) single level in the taxonomic classification system
taxonomy
science of classifying organisms
web of life
phylogenetic model that attempts to incorporate the effects of horizontal gene transfer on evolution
Phylogenetics
analogy
(also, homoplasy) characteristic that is similar between organisms by convergent evolution, not due to the same evolutionary path
ancestral
the version of the character found in older ancestors (”older” version)
basal taxon
branch on a phylogenetic tree that has not diverged significantly from the root ancestor
binomial nomenclature
system of two-part scientific names for an organism, which includes genus and species names
branch point
node on a phylogenetic tree where a single lineage splits into distinct new ones
character
attributes that potentially allow its differentiation or potential differentiation from others
character state
the different conditions of a character
derived
the version found in more recent ancestors/descendants (“newer” version)
genus
division of family in the taxonomic classification system; the first part of the binomial scientific name
homology
similarity in characteristics resulting from a shared ancestry
horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
transfer of genes between unrelated species
Linnaeus, Carl
taxonomist who first developed a hierarchical model for naming species
maximum parsimony
applying the simplest, most obvious way with the least number of steps
monophyletic group
(also, clade) organisms that share a single ancestor
most recent common ancestor (MCRA)
youngest extinct common ancestor for a particular group of taxa
phylogenetic tree
diagram that reflects the evolutionary relationships among organisms or groups of organisms
phylogeny
evolutionary history and relationship of an organism or group of organisms
polytomy
branch on a phylogenetic tree with more than two groups or taxa
root
single ancestral lineage on a phylogenetic tree to which all organisms represented in the diagram relate
shared ancestral character
describes a characteristic on a phylogenetic tree that all organisms on the tree share
shared derived character
describes a characteristic on a phylogenetic tree that only a certain clade of organisms share
sister taxa
two lineages that diverged from the same branch point
systematics
field of organizing and classifying organisms based on evolutionary relationships
taxon
(plural: taxa) single level in the taxonomic classification system
taxonomy
science of classifying organisms
web of life
phylogenetic model that attempts to incorporate the effects of horizontal gene transfer on evolution