If you were using cladistics to build a phylogenetic tree of cats, which of the following would be the best outgroup? a. wolf b. domestic cat c. lion d. leopard

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Cladistics

Cladistics is a method of classifying organisms based on shared derived characteristics, which are traits that are present in an organism but absent in its ancestors. This approach helps in constructing phylogenetic trees that depict evolutionary relationships. In cladistics, the goal is to group organisms into clades, which are branches that include a common ancestor and all its descendants.

Outgroup

An outgroup is a species or group of species that is closely related to the group being studied (the ingroup) but is not part of it. In phylogenetic analysis, the outgroup serves as a reference point to help determine the evolutionary relationships among the ingroup members. Choosing an appropriate outgroup is crucial for accurately inferring the characteristics and evolutionary history of the ingroup.

Phylogenetic Tree

A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that represents the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on their genetic or physical characteristics. The branches of the tree illustrate how species diverged from common ancestors over time. Understanding the structure of a phylogenetic tree is essential for interpreting evolutionary history and the relatedness of different species.

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Building Phylogenetic Trees Example 2

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VISUAL SKILLS In Figure 26.4, which similarly inclusive taxon is represented as descending from the same common ancestor as Canidae? a. Felidae b. Mustelidae c. Carnivora d. Lutra

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.VISUAL SKILLS Based on the tree below, which statement is correct? (A)Lizards and goats form a sister group. (B)Salamanders are a sister group to the group containing liz-ards, goats, and humans. (C)Salamanders are more closely related to lizards than to humans. (D)Goats and humans are the only sister group shown in this tree.

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VISUAL SKILLS The relative lengths of the frog and mouse branches in the phylogenetic tree in Figure 26.13 indicate that a. frogs evolved before mice. b. mice evolved before frogs. c. the homolog has evolved more rapidly in mice. d. the homolog has evolved more slowly in mice.

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