To apply parsimony to constructing a phylogenetic tree, (A)...

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.

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.

Key Concepts

Parsimony Principle

The principle of parsimony in evolutionary biology, often called Occam’s razor, holds that the simplest explanation with the fewest assumptions is preferred. In phylogenetics, it means choosing the tree that explains the observed characteristics with the minimum number of evolutionary changes.

Phylogenetic Trees

Phylogenetic trees are branching diagrams that represent the evolutionary relationships among various species or groups. They provide a visual summary of hypotheses about the ancestral divergence and evolutionary history of the organisms studied.

Shared Derived Characters

Shared derived characters, or synapomorphies, are traits that are present in an ancestral species and shared exclusively by its evolutionary descendants. These characters are key in reconstructing phylogenetic relationships, as they suggest common ancestry among the groups that exhibit them.

Minimal Evolutionary Changes

Selecting the hypothesis that involves the fewest evolutionary transformation events is central to parsimony. This approach assumes that fewer changes are more likely to accurately reflect evolutionary history, making it a fundamental criterion in constructing phylogenetic trees.

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