Shared Common Ancestor
Definition
A shared common ancestor refers to an ancestral species from which two or more descendant species evolved.
Analogy
Imagine your family tree. You and your cousins share common grandparents; similarly, different species share common ancestors at various points in evolutionary history.
Related terms
Phylogenetic Tree: A diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on their genetic similarities and differences.
Speciation: The formation of new and distinct species during the course of evolution.
Cladistics: A method of classification of animals and plants according to the proportion they share derived characteristics.
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