Cladogram

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 branch point in a cladogram represent?

Back

A branch point, or node, in a cladogram represents a common ancestor shared by the species that diverge from that point.

Front

How can you determine which organisms are most closely related on a cladogram?

Back

Organisms that share a more recent common ancestor (closer branch points) are considered more closely related.

Front

What characteristic do all organisms to the right of a specific point on a cladogram share?

Back

They share a common derived characteristic that is present in all descendants from that point onward.

Front

What is a common characteristic of sharks and ray-finned fish according to a cladogram?

Back

Both sharks and ray-finned fish share the characteristic of having jaws.

Front

Which organisms are least related according to a cladogram?

Back

Organisms that are farthest apart on the cladogram are least related.

Front

What does it mean for a trait to be a shared characteristic?

Back

A shared characteristic is a trait that has evolved in a common ancestor and is present in all its descendants.

Front

What is the significance of newly evolved traits in a cladogram?

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Newly evolved traits indicate adaptations that are shared by all future organisms branching from that point.

Front

How can you identify the most closely related species in a cladogram?

Back

Look for the species that diverge from the same branch point; they are the most closely related.

Front

What is the role of a common ancestor in a cladogram?

Back

A common ancestor is the species from which two or more descendant species evolved.