Systematics & Classification

3. (derived)– a trait in a descendant that differs from the ancestral trait.
4. – branch of biology that investigates relationships among species to understand the history of life.
7. – any group of species designated for study.
8. (ancestral) – a trait present in the common ancestor of a group.
12. – a hypothesis of species relationships, typically composed of nodes and a root.
13. – traits evolving independently due to similar environmental pressures, resulting in superficial similarity (homoplasy).
14. – a derived character unique to a single taxon.
18. – a derived trait shared among a group, indicating common ancestry.
20. – the simplest explanation of observed data is preferred, minimizing evolutionary changes.

1. – a shared ancestral character between the outgroup and ingroup.
2. – a distinguishing feature or attribute of an organism.
5. – a derived character.
6. – traits shared by species inherited from a common ancestor.
8. – the study of the evolutionary history of species.
9. – refers to the closest relative in a phylogenetic context.
10. – the group of primary interest in a phylogenetic study.
11. – the field devoted to the classification of organisms.
15. – a species or group outside the ingroup used to determine ancestral and derived traits.
16. – the best explanation fits the data with the fewest assumptions.
17. – branch of biology that reconstructs the evolutionary history of species.
19. – a taxon consisting of all the descendants of a common ancestor.