| A | B |
|---|
| analogy | similarity between two species that is due to convergent evolution |
| binomial | two-part latinized name of a species |
| clade | group of species that includes an ancestral species and all its descendants |
| cladistics | analysis of the resemblances among clades |
| cladogram | diagram depicting patterns of shared characteristics among taxa |
| class | taxonomic category above order |
| domain | taxonomic category above the kingdom level |
| family | taxonomic category above genus |
| fossil record | chronicle of evolution of geologic time engraved in the order in which fossils appear in rock strata |
| genus | taxonomic category above the species level |
| homology | similarity in characteristics resulting from a shared ancestry |
| homoplasy | similar (analogous) structure or molecular sequence that has evolved independently in two species |
| in-group | group of taxa that is actually being analyzed for evolutionary relationships |
| kingdom | second broadest after domain |
| maximum likelihood | one that reflects the most likely sequence of evolutionary events |
| maximum parsimony | one should first investigate the simplest explanation that is consistent with the facts |
| molecular clock | timing method based on the observation that at least some regions of genomes evolve at constant rates |
| molecular systematics | comparison of nucleic acids or other molecules in different species to infer relatedness |
| monophyletic | derived from a single ancestral species that gave rise to no species in any other taxa |
| neutral theory | much evolutionary change in genes and proteins has no effect on fitness |
| order | taxonomic category above family |
| orthologous genes | passed in a straight line from one generation to the text |
| out-group | related to the group of species being studied |
| paralogous genes | homologous genes that are found in the same genome due to gene duplication |
| paraphyletic | taxon that excludes some members that share a common ancestor with members included in the taxon |
| phylogenetic tree | diagram that represents a hypothesis about evolutionary relationships |
| phylogeny | evolutionary history of a species or group of related species |
| phylogram | phylogenetic tree in which the lengths of the branches reflect the number of genetic changes |
| phylum | taxonomic category above class |
| polyphyletic | taxon whose members were derived from two or more ancestral forms not common to all members |
| shared derived character | evolutionary novelty unique to a particular clade |
| shared primitive character | character displayed in species outside a particular taxon |
| specific epithet | second part of a binomial |
| systematics | study of the diversity and relationships of organisms |
| taxon | named taxonomic unit at any given level |
| taxonomy | characteristics used to assess the similarities and differences between various species |
| ultrametric tree | in which the lengths of the branches reflect measurements of geologic time |
