Phylogeny

AP Biology· difficulty 3/5

When molecular and morphological phylogenies disagree, biologists often

  • A

    Combine evidence and reconcile, sometimes using larger molecular datasets which often resolve ambiguities

    check_circle
  • B

    Always discard the molecular tree and rely solely on morphology, since shape data are inherently more reliable

  • C

    Choose between the two trees at random, since neither molecular nor morphological evidence can resolve conflicts

  • D

    Reject the entire phylogenetic analysis whenever any character disagreement appears between datasets

Explanation

Molecular data has revolutionized many phylogenies because of its abundance and reduced impact of convergence. Combined evidence is typically strongest.

Want 10 more like this — adaptive to your weak spots?

Related questions