In Determining the Evolutionary Relationships of Current Species,one Needs to ________

Question

In determining the evolutionary relationships of current species,one needs to ________.
A) read along the tree tips: Species closer to each other are always more closely related
B) read along the tree tips: Species shown at the tips are arranged in patterns reflecting which groups evolved from others
C) read "back" to nodes connecting species to determine common ancestry
D) None of the above is an accurate way to read phylogenetic trees.

Accepted Answer

To determine the evolutionary relationships of current species, one needs to read "back" to nodes connecting species to determine common ancestry. The branching pattern shows the order of speciation events, and common nodes represent a common ancestor. Reading along the tree tips may not always accurately represent closer relationships, as convergence or parallel evolution may result in similar traits in distantly related groups. Reading along the tree tips also does not necessarily reflect which groups evolved from others.