1. Objectives 18.2 Modern Evolutionary Classification
-Explain the difference between evolutionary classification and Linnaean classification.
-Describe how to make and interpret a cladogram.
-Explain the use of DNA sequences in classification.

2. Phylogeny???
The study of how living and extinct organisms are related to one another is phylogeny.

3. Derived Characters
In contrast to Linnaean classification, cladistic analysis focuses on certain kinds of characters, called derived characters.
A derived character is a trait that arose in the most recent common ancestor.

4. Genes as Derived Characters???
All organisms carry genetic information in their DNA.
A wide range of organisms share a number of genes that can be used to determine evolutionary relationships.

5. New Techniques Suggest New Cladograms…
The use of DNA characters in cladistic analysis has helped to make evolutionary trees more accurate.
Often, scientists use DNA evidence when anatomical traits alone can’t provide clear answers.