A shared ancestral characteristic used in cladistics is found
A) in only the two most recent ancestors.
B) only among the members of the ingroup.
C) in both the outgroup and the ingroup.
D) in two of the outgroups.
E) only in the most distant ancestor.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A shared ancestral characteristic must be found in both the outgroup (the group being compared to the ingroup) and the ingroup (the group being studied). This character must have originated in the most recent common ancestor of both the outgroup and the ingroup. Therefore, it cannot be unique to only the two most recent ancestors or only in the most distant ancestor. It also cannot be limited to just the ingroup or two of the outgroups.

A Shared Ancestral Characteristic Used in Cladistics Is Found