Phylogeny

Multiple Choice

What does a phylogenetic tree represent?

• The geographic distribution of species

• The evolutionary relationships among species

• The genetic mutations within a single organism

• The physical adaptations of organisms over time

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT used to construct phylogenetic trees?

• Fossil records

• Genetic data

• Behavioral traits

• Individual lifespan

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a homologous structure?

• A trait that appears due to environmental pressures

• A characteristic inherited from a common ancestor

• A mutation that causes evolutionary divergence

• A structure that serves no functional purpose

Multiple Choice

What can be inferred when two species have very similar DNA sequences?

• They evolved independently

• They share a recent common ancestor

• They belong to different evolutionary branches

• Their similarities are due to convergent evolution

Multiple Choice

What is the main purpose of a cladogram?

• To show how organisms are classified based on appearance

• To illustrate evolutionary relationships using shared derived traits

• To determine which species are most genetically diverse

• To display the geographic locations of species

Multiple Choice

What is the first step in constructing a cladogram?

• Identifying organisms with the most complex traits

• Arranging species in a random order

• Determining shared characteristics among organisms

• Choosing the organism with the longest lifespan as the root

Multiple Choice

If a new species is discovered and has characteristics of two existing clades, how should it be placed in a cladogram?

• It should be placed randomly between the two clades

• It should be excluded because it does not fit in one clade

• It should be placed in the clade that shares the most derived traits with it

• It should always be considered an outgroup