Cladograms Flashcard

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What is a cladogram?

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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.

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What does a common ancestor represent in a cladogram?

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A common ancestor represents a species from which two or more species have evolved. It is depicted at a branching point in a cladogram.

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Which two domains of life are most closely related according to cladistics?

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Archaea and Eukarya are the two domains of life that are most closely related according to cladistics.

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What is the significance of the branching points in a cladogram?

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Branching points in a cladogram represent the divergence of species from a common ancestor.

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What type of organisms are classified as lacking tissues?

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Sponges are classified as lacking tissues, making them unique among multicellular organisms.

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How do cladograms help in understanding evolutionary relationships?

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Cladograms help in understanding evolutionary relationships by visually representing how species are related through common ancestry and evolutionary changes.

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What is the difference between Bacteria and Archaea?

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Bacteria and Archaea are both prokaryotic domains, but they differ in their genetic makeup, cell wall composition, and biochemical pathways.

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What is the role of phylogenetics in biology?

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Phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities, often using cladograms to illustrate these relationships.

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What does it mean if two species share a more recent common ancestor?

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If two species share a more recent common ancestor, it indicates that they are more closely related to each other than to species that diverged earlier.

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What is the importance of genetic similarities in cladistics?

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Genetic similarities are important in cladistics as they provide evidence for evolutionary relationships and help in constructing accurate cladograms.