A taxonomist groups dolphins (mammals), ichthyosaurs (extinct reptiles), and sharks (fish) together in a taxon of 'streamlined marine predators' based on their body shape, flippers, and aquatic habitat.
Which statement correctly evaluates this classification method?
It is a phylogenetic classification because body streamlining and flippers are homologous characteristics inherited from a recent common ancestor.
It is an artificial classification because it groups organisms by analogous characteristics that arose via convergent evolution, rather than their evolutionary relationships.
It is a natural classification because it relies on a large number of shared biochemical and physiological traits to establish evolutionary links.
It is an artificial classification because it uses cladistic analysis of DNA base sequences to identify monophyletic groups.
38 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Biology 5.2 Natural selection and evolution, covering 5.2.1 Genetic variation within a population, 5.2.2 Developments in classification systems, 5.2.3 How evolution occurs through natural selection, 5.2.4 Evolution as change over time, 5.2.5 Evidence for evolution, and 5.2.6 Darwin and Wallace. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.