High School Biology : Understanding Phylogenetics
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Biology
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Understanding Phylogenetics
To what domain do humans belong?
Animalia
Eukaryota
Archaea
Bacteria
Eukaryota
Eukaryota is one of the three phylogenetic domains, with the remaining two being Bacteria and Archaea. Eukaryota contains all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Bacteria and Archaea both contain only prokaryotic organisms, but have certain distinguishing features.
The hierarchy of phylogenetic classification is domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. There are six kingdoms: Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia. Humans are in the domain Eukaryota, under the kingdom Animalia.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Phylogenetics
Which of the following is the correct hierarchy for classifying organisms, from most inclusive to least inclusive?
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Kingdom, Domain, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom, Domain
Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Domain, Kingdom
Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
The most inclusive hierarchical category is domain. There are three domains, which include all forms of life: bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota. The least inclusive, and thus most specific, category is species. This means that two organisms that are the same species are more evolutionarily related than two organisms that are part of the same genus.
In order, the hierarchy of biological classification is: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Phylogenetics
The vertex where two branches start on a phylogenetic tree most specifically represents __________.
a common ancestor
a prey species
the previous generation of a population
a similar species
a new species
a common ancestor
The point where two branches meet on a phylogenic tree represents a species that is a common ancestor of all the "branch" species that meet at that point. The branching represents the development of new species. One thing to remember is that phylogenetic trees do not depict generations like a pedigree or family tree does.
Example Question #3 : Understanding Phylogenetics
Which of the following information could NOT be found on a phylogenetic tree (cladogram)?
Common ancestors of extant species
Which species are descended from which other species
How closely related various extant species are
Predator-prey relationships of extant species
Predator-prey relationships of extant species
A phylogenetic tree presents data about which species developed from common ancestors. Phylogenetic trees can be used to infer how closely related various extant species are; however, phylogenetic trees do not include any data about predator-prey relationships.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Phylogenetics
Which characteristic is useful to infer a sister relationship (a synapomorphy) between taxa A and B?
Wings and feathers
Feathers only
Tail only
Tail, horn, and wings
Wings only
Wings only
To determine a sister relationship, we need to determine a characteristic that is shared only between the two taxa A and B. Wings is the correct answer because it is the only characteristic that is shared by only taxa A and B. Feathers is a characteristic that is only present in taxon A. Tail is shared between all the taxa and horn is shared between all taxa A-E
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