Understanding Phylogeny and Taxonomy

What is the primary focus of taxonomy in biology?

• Examining the ecological roles of organisms

• Analyzing the genetic makeup of organisms

• Classifying organisms based on similar characteristics

• Studying the behavior of organisms

Which of the following is NOT a domain in the current classification system?

• Bacteria

• Archaea

• Prokaryotes

• Eukaryotes

How does phylogeny differ from taxonomy?

• Phylogeny focuses on the ecological roles of species

• Phylogeny considers the evolutionary history of species

• Phylogeny classifies organisms based on physical traits

• Phylogeny studies the behavior of organisms

What is the endosymbiotic theory primarily concerned with?

• The development of multicellular organisms

• The evolution of eukaryotic cells

• The classification of archaea

• The origin of prokaryotic cells

What is a phylogenetic tree used for?

• Predicting the future evolution of species

• Mapping the geographical distribution of species

• Predicting evolutionary relationships between organisms

• Classifying organisms based on their diet

What principle do evolutionary biologists use to construct phylogenetic trees?

• Minimum similarity

• Minimum divergence

• Maximum parsimony

• Maximum complexity

In a phylogenetic tree, what does a node represent?

• A common ancestor

• A geographical location

• An extinct species

• A future evolutionary change

What does the loss of a branch in a phylogenetic tree indicate?

• A species has changed its diet

• A species has become extinct

• A new species has evolved

• A species has migrated

What is the first step in reading a phylogenetic tree?

• Identifying the most recent species

• Finding the root or common ancestor

• Locating the extinct species

• Determining the geographical origin

What can be inferred from the branching pattern of a phylogenetic tree?

• The geographical distribution of species

• The relatedness and divergence of species

• The chronological order of species evolution

• The ecological role of each species