If a Penny Is Tossed Three Times and Comes Up

question 123

Multiple Choice

If a penny is tossed three times and comes up heads all three times, the probability of heads on the fourth trial is

• A)smaller than the probability of tails
• B)larger than the probability of tails
• C)1/16
• D)1/2

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Definitions:

Maximum Parsimony

Maximum parsimony is a statistical method for reconstructing phylogenies that identifies the tree topology that minimizes the total amount of change, or the number of steps, required to fit the data to the tree.

Introgression

Introgression describes the movement of alleles from one species or population to another.

Incomplete Lineage Sorting

Occurs when a genetic polymorphism persists through several speciation events. When fixation of alternative alleles eventually occurs in the descendent species, the pattern of retention of alleles may yield a gene tree that differs from the true phylogeny of the species.

Genetic Hitchhiking

Genetic hitchhiking occurs when an allele increases in frequency because it is physically linked to a positively selected allele at a nearby locus.