Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

25. Phylogeny

Phylogeny

General Biology

25. Phylogeny

Phylogeny

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0:50 minutes

Problem 2

Textbook Question

To apply parsimony to constructing a phylogenetic tree
a. Choose the tree that assumes all evolutionary changes are equally probable
b. Choose the tree in which the branch points are based on as many shared derived characters as possible
c. Choose the tree that represents the fewest evolutionary changes, in either DNA sequences or morphology
d. Choose the tree with the fewest branch points

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of parsimony in phylogenetics: Parsimony is a principle that suggests the simplest explanation or path with the least number of steps is preferred. In the context of phylogenetic trees, it means choosing the tree that requires the fewest evolutionary changes.

Identify the key elements of the problem: The problem is asking which criterion should be used to apply parsimony when constructing a phylogenetic tree.

Analyze each option provided: a) assumes all changes are equally probable, b) focuses on shared derived characters, c) represents the fewest evolutionary changes, d) has the fewest branch points.

Relate the concept of parsimony to the options: Parsimony is directly related to minimizing evolutionary changes, which aligns with option c.

Conclude that the correct application of parsimony in constructing a phylogenetic tree is to choose the tree that represents the fewest evolutionary changes, as this aligns with the principle of simplicity and minimalism in evolutionary pathways.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Parsimony in Phylogenetics

Parsimony, in the context of phylogenetics, is a principle that suggests the simplest explanation or path with the least number of changes is preferred. When constructing phylogenetic trees, parsimony aims to minimize the total number of evolutionary changes, such as mutations or trait modifications, required to explain the observed data. This approach helps in hypothesizing the most likely evolutionary relationships among species.

Phylogenetic Tree

A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that represents the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics. The tree's branches illustrate how species or other groups have diverged from common ancestors over time. Understanding the structure and interpretation of these trees is crucial for studying evolutionary biology and the history of life.

Shared Derived Characters

Shared derived characters, also known as synapomorphies, are traits that are present in an ancestral species and its descendants but absent in more distant relatives. These characters are crucial for determining evolutionary relationships because they provide evidence of common ancestry. In phylogenetic analysis, identifying shared derived characters helps in grouping species into clades, which are branches of the phylogenetic tree that include an ancestor and all its descendants.

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Which statement below is true of parsimonious trees?

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Textbook Question

In a comparison of birds and mammals, the condition of having four limbs is

a. A shared ancestral character

b. A shared derived character

c. A character useful for distinguishing birds from mammals

d. An example of analogy rather than homology

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a. In the rough ER

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