Cladograms

Front

What is a cladogram?

Back

A cladogram is a diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Front

What is the purpose of a cladogram?

Back

The purpose of a cladogram is to illustrate the evolutionary pathways and relationships between different species, helping to understand their common ancestry.

Front

What does a node represent in a cladogram?

Back

A node in a cladogram represents a common ancestor shared by the descendant species branching from that point.

Front

What is a common ancestor?

Back

A common ancestor is an ancestral species from which two or more species have evolved.

Front

Which organisms lack tissues?

Back

Sponges are the organisms that lack true tissues.

Front

What characteristic do all animals to the right of the hagfish have in a cladogram?

Back

All animals to the right of the hagfish have the common characteristic of jaws.

Front

What trait is represented at point A in a cladogram?

Back

The trait represented at point A is 'eyes'.

Front

How do cladograms differ from phylogenetic trees?

Back

Cladograms focus on the branching patterns of evolution without indicating the time scale, while phylogenetic trees include time and evolutionary distances.

Front

What is a derived trait?

Back

A derived trait is a characteristic that evolved in the lineage leading up to a clade and that sets members of that clade apart from other individuals.

Front

What is the significance of the placement of traits in a cladogram?

Back

The placement of traits in a cladogram indicates the order in which those traits evolved and helps to identify evolutionary relationships.