#3 - Cladograms & Phonogenic Trees

Question 1

What’s the goal of taxonomy? How is it done?

Answer 1

The goal is to determine the evolutionary history of groups of organisms. This is done by comparing the species living today to the species who lived in the past.

Question 2

What (3) types of information do taxonomists use to determine the relatedness among organisms?

Answer 2

1. Evidence from anatomy
2. Evidence from physiology
3. Evidence from DNA

Question 3

Define Anatomy

Answer 3

The structure of organisms.

Question 4

Define Physiology - what else does it include?

Answer 4

The study of the functioning of organisms. It includes studying the biochemistry and proteins of organisms.

Question 5

Why is determining DNA important to taxonomists?

Answer 5

The more genes and genetics organisms have in common, the more closely related they are.

Question 6

Define Phylogeny

Answer 6

An **evolutionary hypothesis **about an organism’s history.

Question 7

What’s a Cladogram?

Answer 7

A branching diagram that shows the relationship between organisms as they’ve evolved - similar to a phylogenic tree.

Question 8

Related organisms in a cladogram are all placed in the same monophyletic group called a __________.

Answer 8

Clade