Phylogenetic Relationships
Biology ⇒ Biological Classification
Phylogenetic Relationships starts at 10 and continues till grade 12.
QuestionsToday has an evolving set of questions to continuously challenge students so that their knowledge grows in Phylogenetic Relationships.
How you perform is determined by your score and the time you take.
When you play a quiz, your answers are evaluated in concept instead of actual words and definitions used.
See sample questions for grade 11
A phylogenetic tree shows that species X and Y share a more recent common ancestor with each other than with species Z. Which two species are more closely related?
A scientist finds that two species share a unique genetic marker not found in any other species. What does this suggest about their evolutionary relationship?
A scientist is comparing the DNA sequences of four species. Species A and B have 2 differences, A and C have 5 differences, and A and D have 8 differences. Which species is most closely related to A?
Describe the importance of an outgroup in constructing a phylogenetic tree.
Describe the role of molecular clocks in phylogenetic analysis.
A phylogenetic tree shows that species X and Y share a more recent common ancestor with each other than with species Z. Which two species are more closely related?
A scientist finds that two species share a unique genetic marker not found in any other species. What does this suggest about their evolutionary relationship?
A scientist is comparing the DNA sequences of four species. Species A and B have 2 differences, A and C have 5 differences, and A and D have 8 differences. Which species is most closely related to A?
Which of the following best defines a phylogenetic tree?
(1) A diagram showing the feeding relationships among organisms
(2) A diagram showing evolutionary relationships among species
(3) A chart of the population sizes of different species
(4) A map of the geographic distribution of species
Which of the following best describes a paraphyletic group?
(1) Includes all descendants of a common ancestor
(2) Includes a common ancestor and some, but not all, descendants
(3) Includes species with no common ancestor
(4) Includes only one species
Which of the following is a limitation of using only morphological data in phylogenetic analysis?
(1) Morphological traits are always inherited
(2) Morphological data can be influenced by environmental factors
(3) Morphological data is always more accurate than molecular data
(4) Morphological data is not useful for extinct species
Which of the following is a synapomorphy?
(1) A trait found only in one species
(2) A shared derived trait present in an ancestor and all its descendants
(3) A trait lost in all descendants
(4) A trait found in unrelated species due to convergent evolution
Fill in the blank: A ________ is a character that originated in an ancestor of the taxon and is shared by all its descendants.
Fill in the blank: In a phylogenetic tree, the point where two branches split is called a ________.
Fill in the blank: The evolutionary history of a species or group is called its ________.
Fill in the blank: The principle that the simplest explanation is preferred in phylogenetic analysis is called ________.
True or False: A polyphyletic group includes species with different ancestors.
True or False: All phylogenetic trees are hypotheses about evolutionary relationships.
True or False: Analogous structures are used to determine close evolutionary relationships.
True or False: Homologous structures indicate common ancestry.
