Cladogram

Front

What is a cladogram?

Back

A cladogram is a diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on their shared characteristics.

Front

What does a node represent in a cladogram?

Back

A node represents a common ancestor of the organisms that branch from that point in the cladogram.

Front

What are derived traits?

Back

Derived traits are characteristics that are present in an organism but were absent in the last common ancestor of the group being studied.

Front

What is a clade?

Back

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

Front

What characteristic do all mammals share?

Back

All mammals have fur or hair and mammary glands that produce milk.

Front

What is the significance of shared traits in a cladogram?

Back

Shared traits help to determine the evolutionary relationships between different species.

Front

How do you identify the closest relative on a cladogram?

Back

The closest relative is identified by the shortest branch length between two organisms.

Front

What do conifers have that distinguishes them from other plants?

Back

Conifers have vascular tissue and produce seeds.

Front

What is the main purpose of a cladogram?

Back

The main purpose of a cladogram is to illustrate the evolutionary history and relationships among species.

Front

What is the difference between ancestral and derived traits?

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Ancestral traits are characteristics that were present in the common ancestor, while derived traits are new characteristics that evolved after the divergence.