Phylogeny Worksheet
Explore the principles of phylogeny, phylogenetic trees, and evolutionary relationships among organisms.
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Standards
Topics
Phylogeny: Understanding Evolutionary Relationships
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Read each question carefully and provide your best answer. For multiple choice questions, circle the correct option. For fill-in-the-blanks, write the appropriate term. For short answer questions, use the lines provided.
1. What is the primary purpose of a phylogenetic tree?
To show the geographic distribution of species.
To illustrate the evolutionary relationships among organisms.
To categorize organisms based on their physical appearance.
To determine the age of fossils.
2. Which of the following provides the strongest evidence for phylogenetic relationships?
Similar diets
Shared habitats
DNA sequence similarities
Identical body size
1. The study of the evolutionary history and relationships among organisms is called .
2. A represents a common ancestor from which different species have diverged.
3. Traits that are shared by two or more taxa and are inherited from a common ancestor are called traits.
1. Briefly explain the difference between homologous and analogous structures in the context of phylogeny.
2. Describe what a 'clade' represents in a phylogenetic tree.
1. All phylogenetic trees are based solely on morphological characteristics.
True
False
2. A phylogenetic tree always shows the exact time when species diverged.
True
False
Match the term on the left with its definition on the right.
1. Node
a. Group of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants.
2. Root
b. The most ancestral common lineage of all organisms in the tree.
3. Clade
c. Represents a speciation event or a common ancestor.