In the absence of evidence from fossils, systematists frequently use a technique called ____ to identify ancestral and derived character states.
A) outgroup comparison
B) ingroup analysis
C) gel electrophoresis
D) microarray analysis
E) homology comparison

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Outgroup comparison is a method used by systematists to identify ancestral and derived character states when fossil evidence is not available. This technique involves comparing the characteristics of the group of interest (ingroup) with those of one or more closely related groups outside of it (outgroups) to infer which characteristics are ancestral.

In the Absence of Evidence from Fossils, Systematists Frequently Use