Review 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 time frame over which the species evolved.

Front

What characteristic do all animals to the right of the hagfish have?

Back

Jaws.

Front

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

Back

Archaea and Eukarya.

Front

What is the common ancestor of alligators and T. rex?

Back

Point C on the cladogram.

Front

What group of dinosaurs are most closely related to birds?

Back

Saurischian dinosaurs.

Front

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

Back

It indicates that they are more closely related to each other than to species that share a more distant common ancestor.

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.

Front

What is the purpose of a phylogenetic tree?

Back

To illustrate the evolutionary history and relationships among species.