Cladogram Practice

Front

What are homologous structures?

Back

Structures that evolved from the same ancestor but have different functions.

Front

What are analogous structures?

Back

Structures that have similar functions but evolved independently from different ancestors.

Front

What does it mean for a characteristic to be derived?

Back

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

Front

What is a cladogram?

Back

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Front

What characteristic do all animals to the right of the salamander in a cladogram share?

Back

Claws or nails.

Front

According to a cladogram, which group are primates most closely related to?

Back

Rodents and rabbits.

Front

What is the significance of a common ancestor in evolutionary biology?

Back

A common ancestor is an organism from which two or more different species have evolved, indicating a shared evolutionary history.

Front

How can you identify derived characteristics on a cladogram?

Back

Derived characteristics can be identified as traits that appear in a group of organisms but not in their ancestors.

Front

What is the difference between a clade and a grade?

Back

A clade is a group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all its descendants, while a grade is a group of organisms that share a similar level of evolutionary development.

Front

What does it mean for a trait to be ancestral?

Back

An ancestral trait is a characteristic that was present in the last common ancestor of a group.