The Figure Shown Is a Phylogeny Created with DNA Sequence

question 38

Multiple Choice

The figure shown is a phylogeny created with DNA sequence data, but it is NOT well-supported with bootstrap analysis; in other words, all clades of the tree have very low (<50%) bootstrap values. The tree also includes observed phenotypes (in varying shades of gray) for the five taxa. The character states are indicated by "B" or "b," "G" or "g," and "P" or "p." Evaluate the hypothetical phylogenetic tree using a parsimony approach. If a more parsimonious tree were to be drawn based only on phenotypes (excluding the DNA data) , which of the following would be grouped as sister taxa on the new tree?

• A) taxa 1 and 2
• B) taxa 1 and 3
• C) taxa 2 and 3
• D) taxa 2 and 4