Cladogram practice

What is a paraphyletic group?

• A paraphyletic group includes an ancestor and all of its descendants.

• A paraphyletic group includes an ancestor and some, but not all, of its descendants, leaving out certain lineages.

• A paraphyletic group includes only the most recent common ancestor and its direct descendants.

• A paraphyletic group is a group that does not include any ancestors.

What is the significance of branching points in a cladogram?

• They indicate the age of the species.

• They represent the most recent common ancestor shared by the species that diverge from that point.

• They show the geographical distribution of species.

• They illustrate the evolutionary adaptations of species.

What is the importance of fossil evidence in understanding cladograms?

• Fossil evidence helps in dating rocks and minerals.

• Fossil evidence provides crucial information about the physical characteristics and evolutionary history of species, aiding in the construction of cladograms.

• Fossil evidence is primarily used to identify modern species.

• Fossil evidence has no significant role in evolutionary studies.

How do scientists use morphological traits in cladistics?

• To identify similarities and differences that help determine evolutionary relationships.

• To classify organisms based on their genetic sequences.

• To measure the environmental impact on species diversity.

• To predict future evolutionary changes in species.

What does it mean for species to be descended from a common ancestor?

• It means that two or more species share a lineage from a single ancestral species, indicating that they have evolved from that ancestor over time.

• It means that species have no relation to each other and evolved independently.

• It means that species are identical and have not changed over time.

• It means that species can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

• Homologous structures are similar due to convergent evolution, while analogous structures are similar due to shared ancestry.

• Homologous structures are similar due to shared ancestry, while analogous structures are similar due to convergent evolution, not common ancestry.

• Homologous structures are always found in the same species, while analogous structures are found in different species.

• Homologous structures serve the same function, while analogous structures serve different functions.

What is the principle of parsimony in cladistics?

• The principle of parsimony states that the most complex explanation is preferred when constructing a cladogram.

• The principle of parsimony states that the simplest explanation, or the one that requires the least number of evolutionary changes, is preferred when constructing a cladogram.

• The principle of parsimony suggests that all evolutionary changes should be considered equally likely.

• The principle of parsimony indicates that only the most recent evolutionary changes should be taken into account.

What is a monophyletic group?

• A group that includes an ancestor and all of its descendants, representing a complete branch of the evolutionary tree.

• A group that includes only the most recent common ancestor of a set of species, but not all its descendants.

• A group that consists of species that share similar traits but do not share a common ancestor.

• A group that includes multiple ancestors and their descendants, representing various branches of the evolutionary tree.

How do you determine the evolutionary relationships in a cladogram?

• By analyzing genetic sequences of the species

• By examining the geographical distribution of species

• By analyzing shared derived characteristics (synapomorphies) among the species

• By studying the fossil records of the species

What is the purpose of a phylogenetic tree?

• To represent the evolutionary history and relationships among species, similar to a cladogram but often more detailed.

• To classify species based on their physical characteristics.

• To illustrate the geographical distribution of species.

• To show the population size of different species over time.