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 does a node represent in a cladogram?

Back

A node represents a common ancestor from which two or more descendant species diverged.

Front

What is the significance of the branches in a cladogram?

Back

Branches represent the evolutionary pathways and the relationships between different species.

Front

How can you determine the closest relative of an organism on a cladogram?

Back

The closest relative is found by looking for the organism that shares the most recent common ancestor with the organism in question.

Front

What is a common ancestor?

Back

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

Front

What does it mean if two species are closely related?

Back

If two species are closely related, it means they share a more recent common ancestor compared to other species.

Front

How can DNA similarity be inferred from a cladogram?

Back

Species that are closer together on a cladogram are likely to have more similar DNA sequences.

Front

What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

Back

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

Front

What role do cladograms play in understanding evolution?

Back

Cladograms help scientists visualize and understand the evolutionary relationships and lineage of different species.

Front

What is the purpose of using a cladogram in biology?

Back

The purpose is to classify organisms based on their evolutionary history and to illustrate how species are related.