Cladogram Introduction Check

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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 are the three domains of life?

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The three domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

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How do you determine relatedness in a cladogram?

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Relatedness in a cladogram is determined by the number of shared traits; organisms that share more traits are more closely related.

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What is a common ancestor?

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A common ancestor is a species from which two or more different species have evolved.

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What does it mean when two species diverge on a cladogram?

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When two species diverge on a cladogram, it indicates that they have evolved from a common ancestor and have developed different traits.

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What is the significance of nodes in a cladogram?

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Nodes in a cladogram represent the points where a lineage splits into two or more descendant lineages, indicating a common ancestor.

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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 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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What is the purpose of a phylogenetic tree?

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A phylogenetic tree illustrates the evolutionary history and relationships among species, showing how they are related through common ancestors.

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

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The most closely related species on a cladogram are those that share the most recent common ancestor, indicated by the shortest branch length.