Cladograms

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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 node represent in a cladogram?

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

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What is the significance of the branches in a cladogram?

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

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What is a derived trait?

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A derived trait is a characteristic that is present in an organism but was absent in the last common ancestor of the group being considered.

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How do scientists use DNA to construct cladograms?

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Scientists compare the DNA sequences of different organisms to identify similarities and differences, which helps determine their evolutionary relationships.

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What is the difference between homologous and analogous traits?

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

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What is the purpose of a cladogram in biology?

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The purpose of a cladogram is to illustrate the evolutionary relationships and lineage of species, helping to understand how they are related.

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

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It means that the two species are more closely related to each other than to other species that do not share that ancestor.

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What is the role of outgroups in cladistics?

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Outgroups are species that are not part of the group being studied but are closely related, used to help determine the evolutionary relationships within the group.

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What is a monophyletic group?

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A monophyletic group, or clade, includes an ancestor and all of its descendants.