Consider Five Species of Toads

question 117

Multiple Choice

Consider five species of toads.Species A and B are sister species.Species C and D are also sister species.The clade containing species A and B is a sister to the clade containing species C and D.Which species is most likely to share synapomorphies with species C?

• A) Species A
• B) Species B
• C) Species D
• D) Species E
• E) All of the above are equally likely to share synapomorphies with species C.

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Definitions:

Least Squares Estimates

A statistical method used to determine the line of best fit by minimizing the sum of squares of the errors between observed and predicted values.

Slope

In mathematics and statistics, it represents the rate at which a line inclines or declines, showing the change in the dependent variable for a unit change in the independent variable.

Y-Intercept

The location at which a line or curve crosses the y-axis in a coordinate system.

Simple Linear Regression

A statistical method that examines the linear relationship between two continuous variables, using a straight line to model the relationship.