Which of the Following Statements Best Describes the Rationale for Applying

question 33

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes the rationale for applying the principle of parsimony in constructing phylogenetic trees?

• A)Parsimony allows the researcher to "root" the tree.
• B)Similarity due to common ancestry should be more common than similarity due to convergent evolution.
• C)The molecular clock validates the principle of parsimony.
• D)The outgroup roots the tree,allowing the principle of parsimony to be applied.
• E)Parsimony differentiates between homologies and homoplasies.

---

Definitions:

Medicalized

The process by which human conditions and problems come to be defined and treated as medical conditions, thus becoming the subject of medical study, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment.

Troublesome Condition

A situation or state that causes difficulty or distress.

Research

The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

Epigenetic Effect

Biological changes that influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, often in response to environmental factors, which can affect an organism's development and traits.