Evolutionary Trees Such as This are Properly Understood by Scientists

Question

Evolutionary trees such as this are properly understood by scientists to be
A) theories.
B) hypotheses.
C) guesses.
D) dogmas.
E) facts.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary trees, or phylogenetic trees, are considered hypotheses because they are scientific explanations based on the best available evidence. They are subject to revision as new data becomes available, unlike dogmas or facts which are considered unchangeable or absolute truths, respectively. They are more than guesses, as they are constructed based on rigorous analysis of data, and they are not merely theories, as theories in science are well-substantiated explanations that incorporate multiple lines of evidence and hypotheses.