Question 1

Which statement best explains why no extant species is considered 'older' or 'more advanced' than another on a phylogenetic tree?

Accepted Answer

Extant species are all equally evolved, as they are present today and have survived to the current generation.

Question 2

In a phylogenetic tree, which criterion is used to determine if two species are closely related?

Accepted Answer

They share a more recent common ancestor compared to other species.

Question 3

Fungi share a common ancestor with humans approximately 800 million years ago, and with bacteria about 3 billion years ago. Based on this information, which group are fungi more closely related to?

Accepted Answer

Humans

Question 4

Which of the following is a monophyletic group?

Accepted Answer

Mammals, because they include all descendants of a common ancestor.

Question 5

Why is it incorrect to say that Homo sapiens is the 'pinnacle' or 'endpoint' of evolution according to modern phylogenetic trees?

Accepted Answer

Evolution has no goal or endpoint; all extant species are equally evolved.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes a paraphyletic group?

Accepted Answer

A group that includes some, but not all, descendants of a common ancestor.

Question 7

If a phylogenetic tree shows that gorillas share a more recent common ancestor with humans than with orangutans, what does this imply?

Accepted Answer

Gorillas are more closely related to humans than to orangutans.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT something that phylogenies can tell us about extant species?

Accepted Answer

Which species is more primitive or advanced.

Question 9

A scientist discovers a 'new species' of bacteria. What does this mean in terms of evolutionary lineage?

Accepted Answer

It is a newly named species, but its lineage is not new to evolution.

Question 10

Which analogy best explains why there is no 'center' or 'main branch' in the tree of life?

Accepted Answer

The universe has no center, just as the tree of life has no central or privileged lineage.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes a polyphyletic group?

Accepted Answer

A group of species grouped by similarity but not descended from a common ancestor.

Question 12

If a character state (e.g., DNA base pair) is present at the deepest node of a tree, what is it called?

Accepted Answer

Ancestral trait

Question 13

Using the principle of parsimony, which tree is preferred when reconstructing evolutionary relationships?

Accepted Answer

The tree that requires the fewest evolutionary changes.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about extant species is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

None of the extant species are ancestral to any other extant species.

Question 15

Which of the following can phylogenetic trees be used to infer?

Accepted Answer

The age of divergence between lineages.

Question 16

If a DNA base pair changes from C to T at a single branch segment in a tree, how many evolutionary changes are required?

Accepted Answer

$$1$$

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a character and its states in phylogenetic analysis?

Accepted Answer

Eye color (character) with brown, blue, and hazel (states)

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a valid use of phylogenetic trees?

Accepted Answer

Determining which extant species is more evolved.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'clade'?

Accepted Answer

A set of species descended from a common ancestor, containing all known descendants.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about the structure of phylogenetic trees is correct?

Accepted Answer

Trees can be drawn in different shapes (rectangular or slanted) but represent the same relationships.

Tree Thinking and Phylogenetic Concepts in General Biology

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