Phylogeny

Question 1

Branch

Answer 1

A line representing a population over time

Question 2

Taxon

Answer 2

Represent species

Question 3

Branch Point (node)

Answer 3

A location in the tree where splitting into two or more branches occur

Question 4

Polytomy

Answer 4

Branch point with 3 or more descendants

Question 5

Sister groups

Answer 5

Share an immediate common ancestor at node where branches meet

Question 6

Outgroup

Answer 6

Lineage that diverges early on the phylogenetic tree

Question 7

Differentiate between ancestral and derived trait

Answer 7

Ancestral Trait - traits that are seen in the ancestor group
Derived Trait - traits that arise during evolution of a group and differ from traits of the ancestor of group

Question 8

Clade

Answer 8

Includes an ancestral species and all its descendants

Question 9

Monophyletic

Answer 9

A valid clade, consists of ancestor species and all its descendants

Question 10

Polyphyletic

Answer 10

Consists of various species that lack a common ancestor

Question 11

Paraphyletic

Answer 11

Ancestral species and some, but not all, of its descendants

Question 12

Synapomorphy

Answer 12

Shared, derived trait common between descendants and their most recent common ancestor (trait is missing in more distant ancestors)
Allows recognition of monophyletic groups

Question 13

Autapomorphy

Answer 13

Derived trait that is unique to a particular taxon

Question 14

Parsimony

Answer 14

Choosing simplest explanation accounting for observations
Choose most parsimonious tree (fewest independent genetic events)