Constructing Cladograms and Traits

The video tutorial provides a detailed walkthrough of constructing a cladogram, focusing on the placement of various organisms such as the worm, shark, mammal, crocodile, lizard, and snake. It emphasizes the concept of maximum parsimony, which suggests choosing the tree with the least number of evolutionary changes. The tutorial also discusses the potential real-life representation of traits, such as legs, and how they might have evolved or been lost over time.

Why does the teacher suggest skipping the snake initially when constructing the cladogram?

• The snake is not part of the assignment.

• The snake has too many traits.

• The snake complicates the cladogram.

• The snake is not a real organism.

What is one way to start constructing a cladogram?

• With an organism that has all traits.

• With a trait that only one organism has.

• With a trait that no organism has.

• With an organism that has no traits.

Which organism is placed first on the cladogram in this example?

• Shark

• Worm

• Mammal

• Crocodile

What unique trait is associated with the shark in the cladogram?

• Trait number one

• Trait number six

• Trait number eight

• Trait number three

Which organism is associated with trait number five?

• Lizard

• Crocodile

• Shark

• Mammal

What is the unique trait of the lizard in the cladogram?

• Trait number four

• Trait number six

• Trait number seven

• Trait number two

What concept helps determine the best placement for the snake in the cladogram?

• Convergent evolution

• Maximum parsimony

• Organism hierarchy

• Trait analysis

What does maximum parsimony suggest about the placement of the snake?

• The snake should be placed with the mammal.

• The snake should be placed with the lizard.

• The snake should be placed with the worm.

• The snake should be placed with the shark.

What is the implication of placing the snake with the lizard according to maximum parsimony?

• The snake gained an extra trait.

• The snake is unrelated to the lizard.

• The snake lost trait number two.

• The snake evolved separately from the lizard.

What might trait number two represent in real life, according to the teacher's guess?

• Fins

• Scales

• Wings

• Legs