Cladograms

Front

What is a cladogram?

Back

A cladogram is a diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Front

What does a node represent in a cladogram?

Back

A node represents a common ancestor from which two or more descendant species diverged.

Front

What is the significance of traits in a cladogram?

Back

Traits are characteristics that are used to determine the evolutionary relationships between species; newer traits indicate more recent common ancestors.

Front

What is the oldest trait among vertebrates?

Back

Jaws are considered one of the oldest traits among vertebrates.

Front

How do you determine the closest relatives in a cladogram?

Back

The closest relatives are determined by the most recent common ancestor, which is represented by the nearest node on the cladogram.

Front

What is the relationship between sharks and ray-finned fish according to cladograms?

Back

Sharks and ray-finned fish share a more recent common ancestor compared to other groups, indicating they are closely related.

Front

What characteristic do all primates share according to cladograms?

Back

All primates share characteristics such as partial binocular vision and opposable thumbs.

Front

What is the importance of shared derived characteristics in cladistics?

Back

Shared derived characteristics help to group organisms into clades, indicating evolutionary relationships.

Front

What does it mean if two species are on the same branch of a cladogram?

Back

If two species are on the same branch, it means they share a more recent common ancestor compared to species on different branches.

Front

What is a clade?

Back

A clade is a group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all its descendants.