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One example of why a cladist is not satisfied with the traditional classification scheme is because it:

a. Focuses on morphological similarities
b. Relies on shared ancestral traits
c. Uses polyphyletic groups
d. Ignores convergent evolution

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Option b is correct option. A cladist is not satisfied with the traditional classification scheme because it ignores convergent evolution and does not utilize shared derived characteristics to accurately reflect evolutionary history.

Step-by-step explanation:

One example of why a cladist would not be satisfied with the traditional classification scheme occurs because traditional classification ignores convergent evolution.

Convergent evolution is where organisms that are not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. Cladistics, unlike traditional classification systems, relies on the idea of shared derived characteristics and evolutionary relationships to group organisms into clades or monophyletic groups, which include a common ancestor and all its descendants. Traditional classification often uses polyphyletic groups, which group organisms based primarily on morphological similarities rather than actual evolutionary history and relatedness.

Moreover, the cladistic approach uses both morphological and molecular data to build phylogenetic trees, considering homologous characteristics derived from a common ancestor and distinguishing them from analogous characteristics that have arisen due to convergent evolution. This method is a dynamic process, and as new genetic information becomes available, phylogenetic trees and classifications are often revised to more accurately reflect evolutionary relationships.

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