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 assumes that the simplest explanation that fits the data is most likely correct. In the case of constructing phylogenetic trees, this means that similar characteristics among different species are more likely due to common ancestry than to convergent evolution (where different species evolve similar traits independently). Thus, the principle of parsimony can help researchers identify the most likely evolutionary relationships among different species. The other answer choices are either incorrect (A, C) or incomplete (D).

Which of the Following Statements Best Describes the Rationale for Applying