In general, the principle of parsimony states that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is usually the correct one. In the case of evolutionary trees, which of the following best describes how parsimony is used?
Question 5 options:
Because any given evolutionary change is very improbable, the tree with the fewest evolutionary changes is statistically most likely to be correct.
Because a tree with fewer nodes is simpler with one with many nodes, the tree with the fewest nodes is more likely to be correct.
Because evolutionary extinctions are very improbable, the tree that shows the fewest extinctions is statistically most likely to be correct.
Because speciation events are very improbable, the tree with the fewest branches is statistically most likely to be correct.