Understanding Phylogeny and Phylogenetic Trees

What is the primary focus of phylogeny?

• The study of evolutionary histories of related organisms

• The study of extinct species

• The study of genetic mutations

• The classification of living organisms

In a phylogenetic tree, what does a branch point represent?

• A new species

• A shared common ancestor

• A genetic mutation

• An extinct species

How can you determine how closely related two species are on a phylogenetic tree?

• By the number of branches

• By the length of the branches

• By the distance between their branches

• By the color of the branches

Which species are more closely related: species 2 and 3, or species 1 and 2?

• All are equally related

• Species 1 and 3

• Species 2 and 3

• Species 1 and 2

Why is it important to trace back to the last shared common ancestor when reading phylogenetic trees?

• To identify extinct species

• To determine the age of the species

• To classify the species

• To understand the evolutionary path