Phylogeny and Cladistics Quiz

What defines a clade?

• A group of organisms with similar habitats

• A group of organisms with a common ancestor and all its descendants

• A group of organisms with similar diets

• A group of organisms with similar physical traits

Which of the following is NOT a key term in cladistics?

• Phylogeny

• Cladistics

• Cladogram

• Taxonomy

What is the primary purpose of a cladogram?

• To show the physical traits of organisms

• To illustrate evolutionary relationships

• To list all known species

• To display genetic sequences

What is the focus of cladistics in terms of organism grouping?

• Physical appearance

• Evolutionary descent

• Geographic location

• Genetic mutations

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a clade?

• Includes all descendants of a common ancestor

• Excludes some descendants

• Represents a single branch of a tree

• Is monophyletic

What is the purpose of using evidence in constructing phylogenetic trees?

• To predict future evolutionary changes

• To discern commonalities and differences to construct an inference of evolutionary past

• To determine the lifespan of species

• To classify organisms based on size

What is the main hypothesis behind constructing phylogenetic trees?

• To predict future species development

• To infer evolutionary past

• To classify organisms by size

• To determine the lifespan of species

What is an outgroup in a phylogenetic tree?

• A taxon used for comparison

• A taxon that is extinct

• A taxon that is the largest

• A taxon that is the smallest

What is the significance of homologous structures in cladistics?

• They indicate similar functions in different species

• They suggest a common evolutionary origin

• They are used to classify organisms by size

• They are irrelevant to evolutionary studies

How does a phylogenetic tree differ from a cladogram?

• A phylogenetic tree shows only living species

• A phylogenetic tree includes time estimates for evolutionary events

• A cladogram includes genetic sequences

• A cladogram shows the geographic distribution of species