POLYPHYLETICISM Meaning and
Definition
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Polyphyleticism refers to a biological concept that pertains to the development of multiple lineages from distinct ancestral sources. It is used to describe a taxonomic group that includes organisms or species that do not share a recent common ancestor. In other words, these organisms have evolved independently and do not originate from a single common lineage.
The term "polyphyletic" can apply to various levels of classification, from species to higher taxonomic ranks. It implies that the organisms within the group have convergently evolved similar characteristics or traits, but these similarities are not due to a shared evolutionary history. Instead, they have evolved through parallel or convergent evolution, adapting to similar environmental pressures or ecological niches.
Polyphyletic groups are usually identified through DNA sequencing or phylogenetic analysis, which examines the genetic relationships among organisms. If the analysis reveals that the organisms in a taxonomic group have diverged from multiple distinct ancestral lineages, it is considered polyphyletic.
Polyphyletic groups can pose challenges in taxonomy and classification, as they go against the principle of monophyly, which states that groups should only include the most recent common ancestor and all its descendants. Thus, polyphyletic groups are typically not regarded as valid taxonomic classifications within the framework of modern evolutionary biology.
Common Misspellings for POLYPHYLETICISM
- oolyphyleticism
- lolyphyleticism
- 0olyphyleticism
- pilyphyleticism
- pklyphyleticism
- pllyphyleticism
- pplyphyleticism
- p0lyphyleticism
- p9lyphyleticism
- pokyphyleticism
- popyphyleticism
- pooyphyleticism
- poltphyleticism
- polgphyleticism
- polhphyleticism
- poluphyleticism
- pol7phyleticism
- pol6phyleticism
- polyohyleticism
- polylhyleticism
Etymology of POLYPHYLETICISM
The word "polyphyleticism" is derived from the combination of two root words: "poly-" and "phyleticism".
1. "Poly-" comes from the Greek word "polys", meaning "many" or "multiple". This prefix is usually used to indicate the presence of multiple or many elements.
2. "Phyleticism" has its root in the word "phylum", which comes from the Greek word "phylon", meaning "race" or "tribe". In biology, "phylum" refers to a major taxonomic group used to classify organisms based on their shared characteristics.
Combining these two root words, "polyphyleticism" refers to the concept in biology where a group of organisms is derived from multiple different ancestral sources.
