BI111 Chapter Notes - Chapter #9: Synapomorphy, Comparative Anatomy, Cladistics

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19 Feb 2018
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Biologists use characteristics of organisms to figure out their relationships. Similarities can possibly suggest a shared ancestor. However only some similarities are actually useful. Characters are anatomical, physiological, or molecular features that make up organisms. Characters have several observed conditions called character states. A character can be present or absent. All species contain some character stated that are shared with other members of their group and some that are unique. Characters that are similar because of descent from a common ancestor are said to be homologous. Similarities due to independent adoption by different species are said to be analogous and are the result of convergent evolution. Shared derived characters enables biologists to reconstruct evolutionary history: Only homologies and analogies are useful in constructing phylogenetic trees. Shared same derived characters are called synapomorphies. Phylogenetic reconstruction on the basis of synapomorphies is called cladistics. The simplest tree is often favoured among multiple possible trees:

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