ANT101H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Evolutionary Taxonomy, Cladistics, Macroevolution
Document Summary
Macro evolution: processes of vertebrate and mammalian evolution. Classification = categorizing organism to show evolutionary relationships -> organizes diversity + shows evolutionary and generational relations. Physical similarities b/w species must reflect evolutionary descent. Basic genetic regulatory mechanism highly conserved -> relatively unchanged ( foundation for macro evolutionary change) Homology (same source) vs homoplasy (same function) -> independent evolution, caused by analogies (similarities are coincident) Evolutionary systematics=traditional, ancestors + descendants traced back in time by analyzing homologous characteristics. Cladistics= evolutionary interpretations based on analyzing certain types of homologous characters. Cladistics defines the homologies that yield most useful info. Some homologous characters more informative than others-> ancestral, clade , derived-> modified. Cladistics assume homoplasy is not a common occurrence. Evolutionary systematics use phylogenetic trees behavioural isolation /-> geographical isolation = limited gene exchange genetic drift but no gene flow. Sexual dimorphism= differences in physical features due to sex.
