Phylogenetic Trees Vocab Phylogenetic Tree- a branching diagram that demonstrates the evolutionary history of a group of organisms. Branch points- represents the divergence of two evolutionary lineages from a common ancestor. Sister Taxa- groups of organisms that share an immediate common ancestor, therefore they are each other’s closest relatives.

Phylogenetic Trees Vocab Clades/monophyletic group- includes an ancestral species and all of its descendants. Outgroup- a species or group of species from an evolutionary lineage that is known to have diverged before the lineage that includes the species we are studying Ingroup- the lineage we are studying. Maximum parsimony- the simplest explanation (least evolutionary changes) that is consistent with the facts is the tree that is accepted

Cladogram