Which of the following types of groups can be removed by a single "cut" to a phylogenetic tree, without the removal of any other species outside the group?
A) Paraphyletic
B) Polyphyletic
C) Monophyletic
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Monophyletic groups have a common ancestor and all of its descendants, forming a single branch on the phylogenetic tree. Therefore, removing this group only requires cutting the branch that includes all its members, without affecting any other species outside the group. Paraphyletic and polyphyletic groups, on the other hand, include species that do not share a common ancestor or exclude some of their descendants, respectively, requiring the removal of additional species outside the group in order to be removed from the tree.

Which of the Following Types of Groups Can Be Removed