ANT101H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Cladistics, Macroevolution, Heterodont
Document Summary
Principles of classification field that establishes rules of classification= taxonomy first classified on physical similarities: must reflect evolutionary descent basic genetic regulatory mechanisms are highly conserved in animals (have remained unchanged for years) large anatomical modifications don"t always require major genetic rearrangements. Evolutionary biologists use 2 major approaches when classifying: evolutionary systematics: traditional approach to classification in which presumes ancestors and descendants are traced in time by analysis of homologous characters (traditional, cladistics: approach to classification that attempts to make rigorous evolutionary interpretations based solely on analysis of certain types of homologous characters (newer) Comparing evolutionary systematics with cladistics both are: interested in tracking evolutionary relationships, constructing classifications that reflect these relationships, recognize that organisms must be compared using specific features, focus on homologies differences are, cladistics more explicitly/rigorously defines kinds of homologies that have most useful info, cladistics focuses on traits that distinguish particular evolutionary lineages, clade: group of organisms (lineages) that share a common ancestor.
