Organizing Life on Earth

Free Response

How does a phylogenetic tree relate to the passing of time?

Hint:

The phylogenetic tree shows the order in which evolutionary events took place and in what order certain characteristics and organisms evolved in relation to others. It does not relate to time.

Some organisms that appear very closely related on a phylogenetic tree may not actually be closely related. Why is this?

Hint:

In most cases, organisms that appear closely related actually are; however, there are cases where organisms evolved through convergence and appear closely related but are not.

List the different levels of the taxonomic classification system.

Hint:

domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species