Monophyletic
Monophyletic
Monophyletic (pronunciation: /ˌmɒnoʊfaɪˈlɛtɪk/) is a term used in phylogenetics to describe a group of organisms that includes an ancestral species and all of its descendants. The term is derived from the Greek words "mono" meaning single and "phyletic" meaning race or kind.
Etymology
The term "Monophyletic" was first used in the early 20th century and is derived from the Greek words "mono" (μόνος), meaning "single" or "alone", and "phyletic" (φυλετικός), meaning "race" or "kind". It was coined to describe a group of organisms that share a common ancestor.
Definition
In biology, a monophyletic group, or clade, is a group of organisms that consists of all the descendants of a common ancestor. Monophyletic groups are typically characterized by shared derived characteristics (synapomorphies) that can be traced back to the most recent common ancestor.
Related Terms
- Clade: A group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor, according to the principles of cladistics.
- Polyphyletic: A group of organisms derived from more than one common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group and therefore not suitable for placing into the same taxon.
- Paraphyletic: A group of organisms that includes an ancestral species and some, but not all, of its descendants.
- Phylogenetics: The study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Monophyletic
- Wikipedia's article - Monophyletic
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