Which of the following statements best describes the rationale for applying the principle of parsimony in constructing phylogenetic trees?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle of parsimony states that the simplest explanation should be favored over more complex ones, and in the case of constructing phylogenetic trees, this means choosing the tree topology that requires the fewest number of evolutionary changes. This is based on the assumption that similarity between organisms is more likely to be due to common ancestry than to convergent evolution. This helps to ensure that the resulting tree reflects the true evolutionary history of the organisms being studied.

Which of the Following Statements Best Describes the Rationale for Applying