5 questions
If two species belong to the same class, then they must also belong to the same...
Order
Phylum
Family
Genus
Species
Three living species X, Y, and Z share a common ancestor T, as do extinct species U and V. A grouping of species T, X, Y, and Z make up...
a valid taxon
a polyphyletic grouping
a paraphyletic grouping
a monophyletic clade
How would one apply the principle of parsimony to the construction of a phylogenetic tree?
Choose the tree in which the branch points are based on as many shared derived characteristics as possible.
Choose the tree that assumes all evolutionary changes are equally probable.
Base phylogenetic trees only on the fossil record, as this provides the simplest explanation for evolution.
Choose the tree that represents the fewest evolutionary changes, either in DNA sequences or morphology.
What would be the best source of data for determining phylogenetic relationships of lineages of protists that diverged hundreds of millions of years ago?
fossils from the Proterozoic eon
morphological characters that are shared and derived
amino acid sequences of their various chlorophyll molecules
mDNA sequences
rRNA gene sequences
In a comparison of birds with mammals, having four appendages is...
a shared primitive character
a shared derived character
an example of analogy rather than homology
a character useful for sorting bird species