Topic Evolution and Diversity Essay - Main Points!

Q)  How does classification and phylogeny differ from each other?

Main points
Key idea:	Principles of classification vs phylogeny
· Classification - group organisms based on their characteristics · Related organisms are first grouped as one species while related species are grouped into same genus · Ref to species + genus as lowest ranks in the classification sys and are used to name organism (i.e. binominal naming system) · Phylogeny - group organisms based on their evolutionary relationships which often involve comparison of DNA base sequences of genes inherited from ancestors to descendents · Ref to grouping organisms based on their characteristics derived from their recent ancestors
Key idea:	Hierarchical classification vs phylogenetic tree
· Classification - related genara are grouped into same family, related families grouped into same order, related orders grouped into same class, related classes grouped into same phylum, related phyla grouped into same kingdom, and related kingdoms into same domain · Ref to hierarchy of increasingly inclusive categories · Phylogeny - represented by a phylogenetic tree comprising of a series of two way branch points · Ref to each branch point as divergence of two evolutionary lineages from a common ancestor + tip of the branches are groups of organisms called taxa. Two related taxa will share a recent ancestral group represented by a branch point
Comments: (i) Visualize the answer through use of labelled diagram (ii) Verbalize the answer + write down the main points w/o referring to the answer (use abbreviations) (iii) Read again within the next 24h & once more within 72h (do not spend more than 10min) (iv) Use ‘comparative terms’ (e.g. unlike, whereas, etc) to answer this type of question (v) Note : for phylogenetic tree, it is common to use the term ‘clade’ in place of ‘taxon’. Clade is a special form of taxon and it should be monophyletic (i.e. comprises of ancestor and all its descendents)