Which of the following statements is TRUE about a phylogeny, as represented by a phylogenetic tree?
I. Descendant groups (branches) from the same node do not share any derived characters.
II. A monophyletic group can be properly based on convergent features.
III. The ancestral group always displays all the synapomorphies of the descendant species.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

I. Descendant groups from the same node actually share derived characters, which is why they are grouped together in the first place. II. A monophyletic group should be based on shared derived characteristics (synapomorphies), not convergent features, which result from convergent evolution rather than shared ancestry. III. The ancestral group does not necessarily display all the synapomorphies of the descendant species; some of these characteristics may evolve after the divergence from the common ancestor.

Which of the Following Statements Is TRUE About a Phylogeny