Which of the following is (are) problematic when the goal is to construct phylogenies that accurately reflect evolutionary history?
A) polyphyletic taxa
B) paraphyletic taxa
C) monophyletic taxa
D) polyphyletic taxa and paraphyletic taxa

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Both polyphyletic and paraphyletic taxa are problematic when constructing phylogenies that accurately reflect evolutionary history. Polyphyletic taxa do not share a recent common ancestor and should not be grouped together, while paraphyletic taxa include only some descendants of a common ancestor and exclude others, leading to inaccurate groupings. Monophyletic taxa, on the other hand, include all descendants of a common ancestor and are preferred when constructing accurate phylogenies.

Which of the Following Is (Are) Problematic When the Goal