A Branching Point in a Phylogenetic Tree is Called a _________;It

Question

A branching point in a phylogenetic tree is called a _________;it illustrates that _______ has occurred.
A)break;extinction of a species.
B)clade;cladogenesis.
C)node;cladogenesis.
D)node;anagenesis.
E)break;anagenesis.

Accepted Answer

A node in a phylogenetic tree represents a common ancestor of the lineages that branch off from it. The branching point illustrates cladogenesis, which is the splitting of a single lineage into two or more new lineages. Therefore, choice C (node;cladogenesis) is the correct answer.