In the construction of a phylogenetic tree, a ________ considers the overall similarities among a group of species without trying to understand their evolutionary history, whereas a ________ considers the possible pathways of evolution to find the best possible tree.
A) cladistic approach; phenetic approach
B) phenetic approach; cladistic approach
C) shared derived character; ancestral character
D) ancestral character; shared derived character

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A phenetic approach focuses on the overall similarities among species, often using numerical methods, without necessarily considering their evolutionary relationships. A cladistic approach, on the other hand, attempts to reconstruct evolutionary histories and pathways by considering shared derived characteristics, aiming to find the most parsimonious tree that reflects the evolutionary relationships among the species.

In the Construction of a Phylogenetic Tree, a ________ Considers