Cladograms Flashcard

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 a common ancestor?

Back

A common ancestor is a species from which two or more different species have evolved.

Front

What distinguishes arachnids from insects?

Back

Arachnids have eight legs and no antennae, while insects have six legs and usually have antennae.

Front

What are the main characteristics of conifers?

Back

Conifers are vascular plants that produce seeds and have needle-like leaves.

Front

What is the significance of the presence of eyes in a cladogram?

Back

The presence of eyes can indicate a shared evolutionary trait among species, helping to determine their relationships.

Front

What does the term 'vascular tissue' refer to?

Back

Vascular tissue refers to the specialized tissue in plants that conducts water, nutrients, and food.

Front

How do you determine the evolutionary relationship between species using a cladogram?

Back

By analyzing the branching patterns and shared traits, you can infer how closely related different species are.

Front

What is the role of traits in cladistics?

Back

Traits are used to classify organisms and determine their evolutionary relationships in cladistics.

Front

What is the difference between homologous and analogous traits?

Back

Homologous traits are similar due to shared ancestry, while analogous traits are similar due to convergent evolution, not common ancestry.

Front

What is a node in a cladogram?

Back

A node represents a common ancestor in a cladogram, where a branch splits into two or more lineages.