3.6 Phylogenetic Tree Construction — Test 1

Start Here Introduction ▾

Welcome! 3.6 Phylogenetic Tree Construction — Test 1 — 20 questions, CSIR-NET style.

Tap the test below — it opens on its own full screen. Use ← All tests at the top to come back.
Each question has a 40-second timer. Answer, then Submit to see your score.
Tap 📋 View Solution under any question for a full explanation.

Open Review at the bottom for a quick revision list of every question with its correct answer.

All 20 Questions Review ▾

Quick revision: every question with its correct answer. For the full explanation, open the test and tap View Solution.

3.6 Phylogenetic Tree Construction — Test 1

Q1. A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that represents the:✓ Evolutionary relationships among sequences or organisms

Q2. In a phylogenetic tree, the tips (leaves) usually represent:✓ The taxa or sequences being compared

Q3. An internal node in a phylogenetic tree represents a:✓ Hypothetical common ancestor

Q4. Branch lengths in many phylogenetic trees indicate the:✓ Amount of evolutionary change (e.g. substitutions)

Q5. A rooted tree differs from an unrooted tree in that a rooted tree:✓ Indicates the direction of evolution from a common ancestor

Q6. Distance-based methods of tree building include:✓ UPGMA and neighbour-joining

Q7. Character-based tree-building methods include:✓ Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood

Q8. The maximum parsimony method selects the tree that:✓ Requires the fewest evolutionary changes

Q9. Maximum likelihood tree building differs from parsimony in that it:✓ Uses an explicit statistical model of sequence evolution

Q10. UPGMA makes the simplifying assumption of a:✓ Constant rate of evolution (molecular clock)

Q11. Bootstrapping is used in phylogenetics to:✓ Estimate the statistical support/confidence for branches

Q12. An outgroup is included in a phylogenetic analysis mainly to:✓ Root the tree and orient the direction of evolution

Q13. A clade (monophyletic group) consists of:✓ An ancestor and all of its descendants

Q14. The usual input for building a phylogenetic tree from sequences is a:✓ Multiple sequence alignment

Q15. Neighbour-joining is popular because it:✓ Is fast and does not assume a constant evolutionary rate

Q16. The branching pattern (shape) of a tree, irrespective of branch lengths, is called its:✓ Topology

Q17. A high bootstrap value (e.g. 95%) for a branch indicates that the branch is:✓ Strongly supported by the data

Q18. The taxa or sequences placed at the tips of a tree are sometimes called:✓ Operational taxonomic units (OTUs)

Q19. Distance-based methods such as neighbour-joining build the tree from a:✓ Matrix of pairwise distances between sequences

Q20. Match each phylogenetics term/method with its description and select the correct option.✓ A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii