Which statement below is true of parsimonious trees?

• A. The most parsimonious tree requires the fewest evolutionary events to have occurred in the form of shared ancestral characters.
• B. Given the rules of how morphological traits change over time, a tree can be found that reflects the most likely sequence of evolutionary events.
• C. Given the rules of how DNA changes over time, a tree can be found that reflects the most likely sequence of evolutionary events.
• D. Trees can be constructed that are the most parsimonious or the most likely, but not both at the same time.
• E. The most parsimonious tree requires the fewest evolutionary events to have occurred in the form of shared derived characters.

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of a parsimonious tree: In phylogenetics, a parsimonious tree is one that requires the fewest evolutionary changes to explain the observed data.
2. Identify the key terms: 'shared ancestral characters' and 'shared derived characters'. Shared ancestral characters are traits that are inherited from a common ancestor, while shared derived characters are traits that are unique to a particular group and not present in distant ancestors.
3. Evaluate the statements: The statement that mentions 'shared derived characters' aligns with the definition of a parsimonious tree, as it focuses on minimizing evolutionary changes.
4. Consider the role of evolutionary events: A parsimonious tree aims to minimize the number of evolutionary events, such as mutations or trait changes, that are needed to explain the relationships between species.
5. Select the correct statement: The statement that correctly describes a parsimonious tree is the one that mentions 'shared derived characters', as it emphasizes minimizing evolutionary events in the form of these characters.