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Shared ancestral character

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General Biology I

Definition

A shared ancestral character is a trait that originated in an ancestor of a taxon and is found in all its descendants. It helps establish the evolutionary relationships between different organisms within a clade.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Shared ancestral characters are also known as plesiomorphies.
  2. These traits can help determine the common ancestry and evolutionary lineage of various species.
  3. Shared ancestral characters are contrasted with derived characters, which are traits that evolved more recently.
  4. The presence of shared ancestral characters among multiple taxa indicates that they diverged from a common ancestor at some point in their evolutionary history.
  5. Understanding these characters is essential for constructing accurate phylogenetic trees.

Review Questions

  • What is the role of shared ancestral characters in determining evolutionary relationships?
  • How do shared ancestral characters differ from derived characters?
  • Why are shared ancestral characters important for constructing phylogenetic trees?

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