Cladograms show evolutionary relatedness, usually based on the similarity of the DNA sequences between different species. The closer two branches of the cladogram are to each other, the more closely related the organisms are to each other. The ends of the branches indicate a common ancestor shared by all of the species of that branch. Cladograms do not show geographic relationships. Although primitive cladograms were formulated based on physical characteristics of animals, now, DNA analysis provides a much more accurate comparison between species. Furthermore, cladograms are not limited to animals.

Each branch in the tree represents a break from the common ancestor at the bottom. A and B are both branches off of the same larger branch that C is also a branch of. D, E and F branched off from the common ancestor earlier than A, B, or C. In general, branches that are closer together, and are on the same larger branch, represent organisms which are closely related.

In the system of biological classification, organisms are classified in a hierarchy, or taxonomy. The highest levels of classification are the most inclusive, while the lower levels become more and more specific until a single species is identified. From most inclusive to least inclusive, organisms are assigned a kingdom, a phylum, a class, an order, a family, a genus, and finally a species.

Organisms sharing the same classification at less inclusive levels will be more closely related. For example, two organisms sharing the same genus will be more closely related than those who only share the same family. Of the given answer choices, family is the most specific level of classification.

Phylogenetics is the study of relationships between organisms and groups of organisms. This is done through the production of phylogenetic trees, which are used to describe these relationships. To make phylogenetic trees, scientists use molecular sequencing and/or morphological similarities in order to characterize the relationships between organisms.

A clade is defined by a organisms that possess a shared derived trait. In other words, we need to find a set of organisms in the table that includes all organisms with a certain listed trait, while excluding any that lack that specific trait. The lion, fish, and sea urchin are the only clade listed. They are all triploblastic, segmented deuterostomes, and none of the other species share those characteristics. The trait of being a deuterostome is the shared derived trait that defines this clade.

Sea urchin, jellyfish: The jellyfish is the outgroup of the tree presented in the table, as it does not have any of the listed traits. Its last common ancestor with the sea urchin is also its last common ancestor with all of the other species, so a clade with the jellyfish must include all 5 species in the table.

Fish, sea urchin, scorpion: All share segmentation and three tissue layers, which the jellyfish does not have. However, the lion also has segmentation and three tissue layers, so it must be included to form a clade.

Fish, sea urchin: Both are deuterostomes with segmentation and three tissue layers, but the lion is also a deuterostome, so it must be part of the clade.

Scorpion, sea urchin: They both have segmentation and three tissue layers, but so do the lion and the fish, so they must also be part of the clade.

The mother's possible genotypes for blood are AO and AA, while the father's are BO and BB; therefore, the child could have any blood type because we could receive an O allele from either parent.

The full possibilities are:

A from mother, O from father - blood type A

A from mother, B from father - blood type AB

O from mother, B from father - blood type B

O from mother, O from father - blood type O

Codominance is a phenomenon in which the phenotypes associated with both alleles will be expressed in their entirety. This expression pattern results in mottled expression, creating distinct red and white spots for the flower. This is different than incomplete dominance, in which the two phenotypes appear to blend together.

Since the A and B alleles both seem to exert a form of dominance, this is clearly not our common example of a complete dominance scenario. We can conclude that blood type is determined by either incomplete dominance or codominance.

In incomplete dominance, both alleles exert influence to a lesser degree resulting in a "blended" phenotype. In blood type, both alleles exert their full influence together. Instead of yielding a blended phenotype, this situation results in a phenotype that is functionally equivalent to having both A and B blood types at once. The A and B alleles are codominant.

In the resulting offspring, both phenotypes are displayed equally. This is a classic example of codominance. If an intermediate phenotype was observed, incomplete dominance would be the correct answer.

In codominance, both alleles are considered dominant. This means that both alleles will be fully expressed in different regions, resulting in spots. In incomplete dominance neither allele is fully dominant, so both can be expressed simultaneously in a given area. The result is a blending of both alleles.

In cases of codominance, the offspring have both alleles expressed at the same time. Thus, the coat color will be roa, which contains both white and red hair.