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Define "highly derived"and "deep within
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Darwin123
Sep 21, 2010, 11:46:52 AM9/21/10
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I have been looking through some articles on evolution. I keep on
seeing the phrases "highly derived" and "deep within". This is
obviously part of the jargon of evolutionary biologists. I am not a
professional biologist, so I don't know what they mean. Typical
usages:
1) Evidence suggests that ceteceans arose deep within the
artiodactyls.
2) The Basilosauridae are regarded as the most highly derived of
ancient ceteceans.
seeing the phrases "highly derived" and "deep within". This is
obviously part of the jargon of evolutionary biologists. I am not a
professional biologist, so I don't know what they mean. Typical
usages:
1) Evidence suggests that ceteceans arose deep within the
artiodactyls.
2) The Basilosauridae are regarded as the most highly derived of
ancient ceteceans.
Guy A Hoelzer
Sep 23, 2010, 12:48:00 PM9/23/10
to
These terms are being used in the context of phylogenetics. "Deep within"
is meant to mean that the branch (of the phylogenetic tree) leading to a
particular taxon (e.g., cetaceans) originated early in the diversification
of the larger clade (e.g., artiodactyls). "Highly derived" refers to a
taxon (e.g., the Basilosauridae) that has evolved many phenotypic changes,
compared with other taxa in the larger clade (e.g., ancient cetaceans). In
other words, a "highly derived" taxon stands out as different from other
members of the clade and exceptionally different from the most recent common
ancestor of the clade.
is meant to mean that the branch (of the phylogenetic tree) leading to a
particular taxon (e.g., cetaceans) originated early in the diversification
of the larger clade (e.g., artiodactyls). "Highly derived" refers to a
taxon (e.g., the Basilosauridae) that has evolved many phenotypic changes,
compared with other taxa in the larger clade (e.g., ancient cetaceans). In
other words, a "highly derived" taxon stands out as different from other
members of the clade and exceptionally different from the most recent common
ancestor of the clade.
On 9/21/10 8:46 AM, in article i7ak1c$2dsg$1...@darwin.ediacara.org,
Darwin123
Sep 24, 2010, 11:50:14 AM9/24/10
to
On Sep 23, 12:48 pm, Guy A Hoelzer <hoel...@unr.edu> wrote:
> These terms are being used in the context of phylogenetics. "Deep within"
> is meant to mean that the branch (of the phylogenetic tree) leading to a
> particular taxon (e.g., cetaceans) originated early in the diversification
> of the larger clade (e.g., artiodactyls). "Highly derived" refers to a
> taxon (e.g., the Basilosauridae) that has evolved many phenotypic changes,
> compared with other taxa in the larger clade (e.g., ancient cetaceans). In
> other words, a "highly derived" taxon stands out as different from other
> members of the clade and exceptionally different from the most recent common
> ancestor of the clade.
> These terms are being used in the context of phylogenetics. "Deep within"
> is meant to mean that the branch (of the phylogenetic tree) leading to a
> particular taxon (e.g., cetaceans) originated early in the diversification
> of the larger clade (e.g., artiodactyls). "Highly derived" refers to a
> taxon (e.g., the Basilosauridae) that has evolved many phenotypic changes,
> compared with other taxa in the larger clade (e.g., ancient cetaceans). In
> other words, a "highly derived" taxon stands out as different from other
> members of the clade and exceptionally different from the most recent common
> ancestor of the clade.
Thank you.
I am going through some technical literature on evolution. I
will have other questions with regard to jargon.
It would be really nice to have an "evolution glossary"!-)
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