Reconstructing Evolution Using Phylogenies Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is phylogeny
A diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent of different lineages
What is a taxon
A group of individuals that are related at any scale
What are the tips of a phylogeny tree called
Terminal taxa
What are line segments of phylogeny trees called
Branches
What are the branching points of phylogeny trees
Nodes
What do nodes represent in a phylogeny tree
Represent common ancestors shared by 2 or more terminal taxa
What is the base of phylogeny tree called
Ancesterol node or root
What are more closely related terminal taxa connected by
Shallow nodes
What do deeper nodes on phylogenetic tree indicate
A more distant divergence events
What is a clade
A taxon that consists of all evolutionary descendants of a common ancestor
What are sister species
2 species that are each other’s closest relatives
What are sister clades
2 clades that are each other’s closest relatives
What do branch lengths depict in phylogenetic tree
The passage of time
What are simplified trees where all the branches are the same length called
Cladograms
Species that are more closely related will share what
More traits
What are ancestral traits
Characters inherited from the common ancestor of a group
What are derived traits
Characters that are unique to specific subgroups
What are homologous traits
A feature shared by taxa that are descended from a common ancester
What does synapomorphy mean
Derived traits shared across all members of a group - evidence of common ancestry
What does autapomorphy mean
A derived trait that is unique + defines that taxon
What does homopalsies mean
Traits that are superficially similar but do not arise from shared ancestry
What can homoplasies arise through
Convergent evolution
What is convergent evolution
Independently evolved features subjected to similar selective pressures become superficially similar
