Question

Scientists apply the concept of maximum parsimony to do what?

a) To reconstruct phylogenetic trees with fewer assumptions
b) To include as many assumptions as possible in tree reconstruction
c) To prioritize complexity in tree reconstruction
d) To reconstruct phylogenetic trees with more assumptions

Answer 1

Scientists apply the concept of maximum parsimony to reconstruct phylogenetic trees with fewer assumptions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Scientists apply the concept of maximum parsimony to reconstruct phylogenetic trees with fewer assumptions. Maximum parsimony hypothesizes that events occurred in the simplest, most obvious way, and the pathway of evolution probably includes the fewest major events that coincide with the evidence at hand. By using maximum parsimony, scientists can determine the order of evolutionary events that is the most obvious and simple.