Final answer:
A phylogeny is a family tree or genealogy of taxa that represents the evolutionary history and relationships among species or groups of species, typically shown as a phylogenetic tree or cladogram.
Step-by-step explanation:
A phylogeny is B. a family tree or genealogy of taxa. It represents the evolutionary history and the relationships among a species or group of species.
The study of organisms with the purpose of deriving their relationships is called systematics, which is often represented by a phylogenetic tree. This diagram is used to reflect the evolutionary relationships among organisms or groups of organisms. The hierarchical classification of groups nested within more inclusive groups is shown in these trees, tracing back to the most recent common ancestors and showing divergence events.
A clade includes an ancestor and all of its descendants and is a key concept in phylogenetics. This method of classifying organisms is based on evolutionary relationships ascertained through both morphological and genetic evidence. Phylogenetic trees and cladograms are tools that scientists use to map the evolutionary pathways and define the taxonomy of all life on Earth based on their phylogeny.