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Classically, taxonomy bases its classifications on morphological characteristics of organisms. However, convergent evolution sometimes produces very similar morphological characteristics independently in sibling branches, leading an unsuspecting taxonomist that the organisms in question are more closely related than they actually are.

Since some time, cladistics has become the standard for locating organisms in the tree of life. Cladistics combines assays in comparative morphology with assays in comparative genomics to more accurately place a species. Cladistics does not structure its tree according to a predefined set of ranks (ie. families, classes, orders, etc), but defines a clade simply in terms of an ancestral form and all its descendants.

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What problems are faced by taxonomists who rely on body-structure comparisons?

Convergent evolution can lead to quite different organisms evolving similar body structures. This makes it difficult for taxonomists to decide how the organisms should be classified.


Find one example of convergent evolution among the Caminalcules?

One example of convergent evolution among the Caminalcules is the evolution of leaf-like structures in different lineages that have adapted to a similar environment. Despite starting from different ancestral forms, these organisms have independently evolved leaf-like structures to maximize surface area for photosynthesis, showing convergent evolution.


Why taxonomists do not use appearance alone to classify organism?

Taxonomists do not rely solely on appearance to classify organisms because physical characteristics can be misleading due to convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits in response to similar environmental pressures. Additionally, many organisms exhibit significant variation within species, making appearance an unreliable criterion for classification. Molecular and genetic data provide more accurate insights into evolutionary relationships, helping taxonomists create a more robust and scientifically sound classification system.


What is the evolutionary process that produces analogous structures called?

The evolutionary process that produces analogous structures is called convergent evolution. Convergent evolution refers to the independent evolution of similar traits in species that are not closely related, usually in response to similar environmental pressures.


A pattern of evolution that results when two unrelated species begin to appear similar because of environmental conditions is?

Convergent evolution is the pattern of evolution where two unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environmental pressures. This can lead to analogous structures in different species that serve the same function, even though they do not share a common evolutionary origin.

Related Questions

Hat problems are faced by taxonomists who rely on body structure comparisons?

Convergent evolution can lead to quite different organisms evolving similar body structures. This makes it difficult for taxonomists to decide how the organisms should be classified.


What problems are faced by taxonomists who rely on body-structure comparisons?

Convergent evolution can lead to quite different organisms evolving similar body structures. This makes it difficult for taxonomists to decide how the organisms should be classified.


What problems are faced by taxonomist who rely on body-structure comparisons?

Convergent evolution can lead to quite different organisms evolving similar body structures. This makes it difficult for taxonomists to decide how the organisms should be classified.


How do you use convergent evolution in a sentence?

Convergent evolution means that different species have evolved to do the same sort of thing. Those two animals show convergent evolution. Convergent evolution explains why they look so much alike.


What is the name of evolution that produces similar but distantly related organisms?

Convergent evolution, or convergence theory.


How is evolution and convergent evolution alike?

Evolution and convergent evolution both involve changes in organisms over time. However, convergent evolution specifically refers to the independent evolution of similar traits in unrelated species in response to similar environmental challenges.


Find one example of convergent evolution among the Caminalcules?

One example of convergent evolution among the Caminalcules is the evolution of leaf-like structures in different lineages that have adapted to a similar environment. Despite starting from different ancestral forms, these organisms have independently evolved leaf-like structures to maximize surface area for photosynthesis, showing convergent evolution.


Why taxonomists do not use appearance alone to classify organism?

Taxonomists do not rely solely on appearance to classify organisms because physical characteristics can be misleading due to convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits in response to similar environmental pressures. Additionally, many organisms exhibit significant variation within species, making appearance an unreliable criterion for classification. Molecular and genetic data provide more accurate insights into evolutionary relationships, helping taxonomists create a more robust and scientifically sound classification system.


The independent evolution of the advanced cephalopod eye and the eye of a vertebrate is know as?

convergent evolution


When will convergent evolution occur?

It already has in some instances


What kind of features can convergent evolution lead to?

help?


When two organisims look alike?

Convergent evolution.