Genetics

Genetics

Contributors in Genetics

Genetics

The states of characters used in a cladistic analysis, either original or derived.Original characters are those acquired by an ancestor deeper in the phylogeny than the most recent common ancestor of ...

polyphyletic

Biology; Genetics

Term applied to a group of organisms which does not include the most recent common ancestor of those organisms; the ancestor does not possess the character shared by members of the group. More?

primitive

Biology; Genetics

Refers to a character or feature in a group of organisms that is inherited from a common ancestor. Teeth are a primitive characteristic of birds since birds inherited them from their dinosaur ...

pseudoextinction

Biology; Genetics

The apparent disappearance of a taxon. In cases of pseudoextinction, this disappearance is not due to the death of all members, but the evolution of novel features in one or more lineages, so that ...

punctuated equilibrium

Biology; Genetics

A model of evolution in which change occurs in relatively rapid bursts, followed by longer periods of stasis.

radiation

Biology; Genetics

Event of rapid cladogenesis, believed to occur under conditions where a new feature permits a lineage to move into a new niche or new habitat, and is then called an adaptive radiation.

rank

Biology; Genetics

In traditional taxonomy, taxa are ranked according to their level of inclusiveness. Thus a genus contains one or more species, a family includes one or more genera, and so on.