Phylogenetics Crossword Puzzle

QUESTIONS LIST: tree length : the total number of changes required for all characters on the tree, vestigial : a structure inherited from an ancestor that no longer serves a clear function in the organism that possesses it, clades : all branches and tips derived from a given node, paraphyletic : taxonomic group that includes the common ancestor but excludes descendants on one or more branches, root : an extra node added at the base of a phylogenetic tree; the mrca for all organisms on the tree, homoplasious : structures which are similar in form and function that arose independently (due to convergent evolution), parsimony : the simplest solution which explains all the data is preferred, monophyletic : a clade; taxonomic group that includes the common ancestor and all descendants, nodes : part of the phylogenetic tree which represents branching points; represents populations not individuals, tips : part of the phylogenetic tree which represents taxa or individuals, phylogeny : reconstruction of evolutionary relationships using trees, polyphyletic : taxonomic group that does not include the common ancestor; often erroneously groups due to homoplasy, common ancestor : population found at a branching point, which gives rise to all descendent species, phylogenetic tree : diagram representing the branching history of evolution, branches : part of the phylogenetic tree depicting independently evolving lineages, taxonomy : classifying names and organisms, homologous : structures which evolved from the same feature in a common ancestor.