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 the best, and this principle is particularly useful in constructing phylogenetic trees. Parsimony assumes that similarity is more likely to be the result of common ancestry than of convergent evolution, which means that the simplest explanation for the observed similarities is that they were inherited from a common ancestor.

Which of the Following Statements Best Describes the Rationale for Applying