Question

Why is it important for scientists to distinguish between homologous and analogous characteristics before building phylogenetic trees?

a) Homologous characteristics provide information about convergent evolution
b) Analogous characteristics are more reliable indicators of evolutionary relationships
c) Homologous characteristics result from common ancestry, while analogous characteristics do not
d) Analogous characteristics always have a higher degree of variation

Answer 1

It is important for scientists to distinguish between homologous and analogous characteristics before building phylogenetic trees because homologous characteristics reflect the evolutionary relationships between organisms, while analogous characteristics do not. Analogous characteristics can lead to incorrect conclusions about the relatedness of organisms. By distinguishing between homologous and analogous characteristics, scientists can accurately represent the evolutionary history of organisms in phylogenetic trees.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is important for scientists to distinguish between homologous and analogous characteristics before building phylogenetic trees because:

1. Homologous characteristics result from common ancestry, while analogous characteristics do not. This means that homologous characteristics reflect the evolutionary relationships between organisms, while analogous characteristics do not provide information about convergent evolution.
2. Analogous characteristics are not reliable indicators of evolutionary relationships. They can arise from separate evolutionary paths and may lead to incorrect conclusions about the relatedness of organisms.
3. Phylogenetic trees are based on the concept of shared evolutionary history, and homologous characteristics provide information about the shared ancestry and evolutionary relationships between organisms. By distinguishing between homologous and analogous characteristics, scientists can accurately represent the evolutionary history of organisms in phylogenetic trees.